More tests for learner drivers

A raft of measures aimed at improving the standard of newly qualified drivers has been unveiled by the government.

Despite an overall drop of 33% in the number of road deaths and serious injuries since the mid-1990s, casualty figures for young drivers have remain unchanged.

As many as 20% of people have an accident within six months of passing their test and a further 70% report near-misses in the same period.

The government has been under pressure to address this apparent lack of driver skill, which is supported by the higher car insurance premiums paid by less experienced drivers

Ministers hope the introduction of school-based road safety foundation courses, a review of instructor training, reforming the hazard perception test and introducing training in night and poor weather conditions will bring these figures down.

However, calls to raise the minimum age for holding a licence from 17 to 18 were resisted, as was the requirement to have purely qualified-instructor training for learners.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly: “We must make sure that novice drivers are safe drivers when they have passed their test. We must also create an expectation of lifelong learning, so that people continue advance learning after their test.”

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