Road safety boss says no to 16-year-old learner drivers on the road
LEARNER drivers should not be on public roads at 16 years old, according to the chairman of a road safety charity.
Jimmy Martin, chairman of Gloucestershire road safety charity, Time and Place, said they should only be allowed to get behind the wheel at 17.
-
Jimmy Martin
This comes on the back of a report by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) which called for the learner drivers to start driving on a provisional licence at 16 and a half, instead of 17.
ABI said the learner drivers should be allowed to go on public roads younger, but must spend at least a year with L-plates before taking their test.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
It is part an overhaul it said will help improve the safety of young drivers.
Mr Martin said: "I don't think they should go on public roads, not that young. We should get them up to a certain standard before they drive on roads.
"When they finally get out on public roads at 17, they will have some idea of handling and controlling a car."
He added that 17 was an "adequate age", and encouraged drivers to start getting used to cars at 16, but not on public roads.
Dangers
The ABI report said young drivers 'frequently over-estimate their abilities, and under-estimate dangers'.
According to the association these measures are needed to reduce the high-crash risk young drivers face, and to lower their motoring insurance costs.
Otto Thorsen, ABI's director general, insisted the government needs to follow Northern Ireland's example in introducing motoring reform. "A car is potentially a lethal weapon, and we must do more to help young drivers better deal with the dangers of driving," he said.
Other measures called for by the organisation includes a ban on an intensive driving course as a sole means of learning and restrictions on the number of young passengers drivers can carry in their car for six months after passing their test. They also want a restriction on young drivers driving at night.
Figures from Gloucestershire County Council showed the most accident-prone drivers are 20 to 24-year-olds.
Garry Handley, road safety team leader for the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership said: "Driving is a skill for life and we encourage the best tuition available, so anything to increase learning and safety must be welcomed."
Comments
by regerme
Thursday, October 11 2012, 12:59PM
“Monitor new drivers. Regerme has launched a free to use road safety scheme. The scheme is being promoted across the world wide web.
Useful for all to comment against the registration of the careless or just damn right dangerous drivers
If you could tell a driver the consequence of their actions could prove catastrophic and as a result make our roads safer would you???
Regerme have provided a FREE to use platform to communicate through the medium of vehicle registration numbers by posting pictures and comments.
This innovative altruistic website has road safety for schools, new driver monitor, how's my driving and road rage reporting components.
PLEASE GET INVOLVED & POST YOUR CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS ON THE SITE
It's FREE, it works and could save lives. What other reason do you need?
If you drive the scheme is not something you can opt out of. Search regerme, log on and check your registration. You may have a comment.
Thank you”
by NibNobs
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 8:03AM
“I would have thought all the insurance companies need to do is stop the way young drivers get their own car insured by putting themselves as a 'named driver' on mummy's or daddy's insurance when the parents never actually drive the car insured. The cost of insuring a 17 year old on their first car, even a typical 1.0 litre Clio, Corsa or Saxo being £5,000+ and to rise after the first claim - would soon reduce accidents.”
by jayne80
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 6:43AM
“rediculous there are enough dangerous drivers (of ALL ages) as it is. At asda a older maybe 60+ yr old man banged into a car and had no consideration for anyone, a 17 and 23 yr old on chases what the hell is this world coming to? the amount of accidents has gone way up and they think making it 16 is gunna improve anything they av another thing coming as kids these days think its cool when it aint!!”