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Driving age increase welcomed

31/12/07

Government proposals to extend the time it takes to acquire a driving license have been welcomed by a northwest newspaper.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph, which has been running the Wasted Lives campaign, has said the plans represent an "important breakthrough".

Although young motorists can still receive a provisional licence at the age of 17, it could take up to 12 months to pass all the learning stages, effectively increasing the legal driving age to 18.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope told the newspaper that he welcomes the proposal, which is partly due to pressure from the Wasted Lives campaign.

He said it will make a big difference to the number of road accidents if the age a driver can hold a full licence is effectively postponed to 18.

"There is now pressure on the government because there is a wealth of opinion that we need to act now. Raising the driving age is an important part of that," he said.

"I am hoping to secure a debate in the Commons in February or March and I will be seeking a meeting with roads minister Jim Fitzpatrick."

Whitehall has said that a three-month consultation will be published in January, which will be followed by proposed legislation by the Department for Transport.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph has recommended a two-part driving test with numerous modules and is calling for a range of stringent penalties for reckless young drivers.

According to the Daily Mail, which has also been running a road safety campaign, government proposals to strengthen the exam procedure may include an increased focus on reducing "over-confidence" among young male drivers.

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