Back Seat Driver?

Learner driver caught by police accompanied only by parrot

Car seized after learner found on motorway with only a parrot to supervise her driving

A learner driver's car has been seized after police who stopped her on a motorway realised the only supervisor in the vehicle was her pet parrot.

The woman, in her 50s, was pulled over on suspicion of speeding near junction 22 of the M62 in West Yorkshire on Sunday morning but officers discovered she only had a provisional licence.

Provisional licence holders are banned from driving on motorways and are only allowed to drive at all when accompanied by a qualified driver.

Apart from the driver herself, the only passenger found by police when they stopped the 4x4 around 8.45am on Sunday morning was a grey parrot.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the vehicle had been confiscated and the driver is expected to be charged with motor offences including speeding at a later date.

The force published a picture of the parrot on Twitter to warn other learners that they must always be accompanied in the car by a full licence holder.

"Say hello to my little friend," the message read. "Unfortunately his owner has a provisional licence, and since parrots are not authorised to supervise learner drivers, her vehicle has been seized by us on the M62."

Chief Inspector Mark Bownass, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "The rules of the road exist for a very good reason and it is important to remember that, if this lady had been in a crash or incident, she would not have been covered by insurance as she was not licensed for the journey.

"Learner drivers should not be on the motorway at all and anyone who takes to other roads as a learner must be accompanied by a qualified driver, have a good understanding of the Highway Code and also make sure they are covered by the qualified drivers insurance policy."