RAC comments on Prime Minister's request for the DfT to look into graduated driving licences for new drivers
Prime Minister May said yesterday that the Department for Transport would review the case for a "graduated” licensing system that imposes restrictions on drivers depending on experience.
RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s comments that she will ask the Department for Transport to take a look at the introduction of graduated driving licences.
“The RAC has been calling for a reform of driving education for young people and the introduction of graduated driving licences with a minimum supervised learning period and restrictions on the number of passengers permitted in the car so this is a very positive step towards preventing the loss of young lives on our roads. The RAC’s Report on Motoring showed that 35% of young drivers felt the standard driving test does not cover all the skills required to cope with the demands of driving today, so clearly we should be exploring how to improve the learning experience.
“Evidence from other countries where some form of graduated driver licensing is used shows that it has been successful in reducing the number of collisions involving young drivers, but in order for it to be as effective as possible it has to be part of an overall package of measures including more extensive driver education. We welcome a common sense approach to driver education such as the recent decision to allow probationary licence holders to take lessons on motorway driving.
“Graduated licensing may also have a positive impact on insurance premiums and should bring about a welcome reduction in the costs for new drivers who are finding the cost of learning to drive, buying and insuring a vehicle prohibitive.”
