Britain's roads have become that bit more dangerous today! My nephew Joshua has passed his driving test at the first attempt.

L_plates

He did the theory last month - no preparation, no revision, no work - and passed at the first attempt, then booked the practical test and sailed through that. Last year he passed his tractor test at the first time of asking and earlier this year it was his fork-lift test he got through without apparent effort.

I remember the first time he drove with me. I had allowed 10 year old Jacob to drive on the farm road, and 7 year old Josh demanded a turn. When we had sorted it so that he could see over (or at least through) the steering wheel and reach the pedals at the same time, he moved off smoothly with none of the kangaroo starts his brother had made, changed gear, steered smoothly round two right-angle corners and into the yard where he did a neat three point turn. How he had learned just through observation and instinct I don't know.

As I said, he is a natural and excellent driver, but has he the common sense which makes a good road driver? I hope so.