As my friends are passing their driving tests, getting on the road and making their own way home, I remain stranded at the bus stop after a long day at school.

Drenched by downfalls, submerged by snow or scorched by the sun, bus journeys are unlikely to ever be as appealing as a ride in your own vehicle, and that's just the waiting. For under 18s, even worse than the weather, the main deterrent of public transport is the price.

It is true that children under 16 years old and students can gain discounted fares onboard bus services in Bristol, however, young people are not treated to the same privileges as OAPs who, with a travel card, can voyage across the region for free.

Not only does this prevent Bristol youngsters from using their public transport, causing more vehicles to travel on the road with parents forced to transport their kids, but it prevents children exploring their own city, becoming self-reliant and learning the basics of growing up.

And while in some devious way the council may hope this encourages more youngsters to hop on a bike or walk and increase the rate of exercise, obviously this isn't possible for everyone and for many journeys.

So, in a mission to combat this problem, find an alternative means of transport and join my friends on the roads, I have been taking driving lessons since January.

Now, on about my 732nd lesson, I'm still about as safe as Stevie Wonder behind the wheel, whether it is boarding pavements, unable to stop at red lights or going down one way routes in the wrong direction, I've committed all the errors. In fact, I could probably create a pretty impressive YouTube video of my worst moments in the driving seat.

The compilation would include various attempts at going right on roundabouts, as let's just say the manoeuvre is not my forte. Fortunately, I haven't made the mistake of going the wrong way round yet, but instead I often end up going straight across the centre. And when I say go across, I don't want you thinking the roundabout in question is one of the small junctions with just a mini bump in the road, no I'm talking about a three-lane monstrosity complete with grass in the middle, with usually an added target of a fountain or memorial for me to hit.

My top driving recollection so far is attempting to navigate through road works, forgetting to brake, going too far down the road to stop in a suitable place to accommodate the oncoming car, thrusting the steering wheel to the left, mounting the pavement, before stalling on the pavement, luckily preventing me hitting either a wall or passers by, who were looking on incredulously. All orchestrated to a soundtrack of beeping, shouting and screeches from the car. With extra embarrassment when I had to get out of the car and switch seats with my instructor as I hadn't learnt how to reverse yet.

So even if it is to save people like me from driving on our roads, the council really has to change the approach to public transport. Only time will tell whether I pass my test or public transport for teenagers becomes free first. But for the safety of Bristol, lets hope it's the latter.

James Bailey is a student at Bristol's QEH school