Increase in driving age considered

The minimum legal driving age could be raised to 18 in an attempt to cut the number of deaths caused by young and inexperienced drivers.

According to the Times, the Government is “considering a 12-month training period for new drivers”, which would effectively increase the licensing age from 17 to 18.

Road accidents are the biggest killer of 15 to 24-year-olds in the UK and figures show that 27 per cent of male drivers are involved in a crash in their first year on the road.

The Department for Transport is considering measures put forward by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee last month, including the year-long minimum learning period. A spokeswoman for the department would not confirm whether new drivers would face a 12-month training period.

“We announced in February that we intend to fundamentally overhaul the driver testing and training system,” she told the Times. “Work is ongoing to inform this and we plan to consult later in the year, with particular emphasis on engaging with young people.”

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), young drivers make up one-eighth of all licence holders but are involved in a third of all accidents. “Lack of driving experience and peer pressure is killing or seriously injuring four young people every day,” said Nick Starling, ABI director of general insurance.

“We need radical action to stop this tragic waste of young lives. We support plans to overhaul driver training and testing,” he added.

The ABI believes a one-year learning period should cover a variety of driving conditions such as driving at night and in bad weather.

A similar program in Sweden has led to a 40 per cent drop in young driver road casualties.

The committee has also recommended different alcohol limits for learner drivers, a ban on drivers under the age of 20 carrying passengers between the ages of 10 and 20 at night, and an overhaul of the driving test.