THE LEGAL BIT – www.gov.uk browse Driving and Transport – driving licences.

The provisional licence, you can apply for this when you are 15 years and 9 months old. You can start driving when you are 17. (You can drive at 16 if you are in receipt of the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment.)  When you have your licence and are 17 you are legal to drive on the road under the following circumstances:

You MUST be supervised by someone at least 21 years old who holds a full EC/EEA licence for that type of car (automatic or manual) and has held one for at least three years.  Any vehicle driven by a learner MUST display red L plates. Plates MUST conform to legal specifications and MUST be clearly visible to others from in front of the vehicle and from behind.  Plates should be removed or covered when not being driven by a learner (except on driving school vehicles).  (The Official Highway Code)

If you want to start driving before you are 17, this is OK if you are on private land.  This area must be gated.  A word of warning, supermarket car parks and industrial estates are public places!

To be legal to drive you must be able to read a number plate, in good daylight, from 20 metres (20.5 metres for the old style number plate).  This is about 5 car lengths.  If you need glasses that’s fine but you must always wear them when driving.