Some parents are letting their children drive before they reach the legal age of driving.
A study by Voucher Codes Pro of 2,157 parents found 35 per cent have let their children aged under 17 get behind the wheel.
Worryingly, some admitted their let their offspring drive on public roads.
A total of 71 per cent of parents felt allowing underage driving was to give children some experience of controlling a car ahead of taking official driving lessons, while six per cent said they wanted to show their children it was more difficult than it looks.
There was also strong support for the driving age to be lowered, with 47 per cent backing a possible change in the current age limit.