Tonight:
4°c
A rioter who terrorised diners with an axe at McDonald's has been jailed for five years and three months - one of the toughest sentences for last summer's disturbances
More...
Campaign to raise driving age to 18 is backed by MPs
Last updated at 12:29pm on 19.07.07
Road victim: Doctor Margaret Davidson
The driving age must be raised to 18 to cut road deaths, MPs will say on Thursday.
In a study of young drivers, they also recommend that a 'zero alcohol' drink-drive limit is introduced for the first year after a motorist passes their test.
In addition, there should a minimum 12-month period before a learner can take a test and drive unaccompanied.
Under its plans, teenagers could apply for a provisional licence at 17, but not hold a full one until 18.
More than 1,000 a year - a third of them drivers - are killed in crashes involving a driver aged 17 to 25.
The 'appalling' collision and death rate are proof that the system is 'failing', says today's report from the Transport Select Committee.
'Given the risks involved in driving, it seems reasonable that the minimum ages for holding a full driving licence should be 18 years,' it adds.
Gwyneth Dunwoody, chairman of the committee, said: 'The carnage of novice drivers must end. We cannot continue to waste young lives.'
The report also calls for more robust policing and tougher sentences against an 'underclass' of young drivers who flout the law.
It demands a crackdown on 'rogue' drivers who drive without a valid licence, insurance or tax, in cars which are unroadworthy and do not have an MoT certificate.
The tough and uncompromising report is a significant step forward for the Daily Mail's campaign to raise the driving age. It is backed by the insurance industry, road safety campaigners and motoring groups such as the RAC.
Pressure to restrict young drivers and bring in tougher sentences for those who cause fatal crashes
followed a plea from Elizabeth Davidson. Her 26-year-old daughter Margaret was killed last year by 19- year- old Nolan Haworth. Haworth hit her car at 70mph in a 50mph zone as he raced to court, while banned, to answer a charge of affray. In September he was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Mrs Davidson, who moved a judge to tears by describing her devastation after her junior doctor daughter was killed, has aligned herself with motoring groups calling for further limits on young drivers.
With the weight of informed opinion backing a change, the Department for Transport said today it would 'not rule out' raising the driving age. It will consult on driving test reforms in the autumn.
The Association of British Insurers-said evidence backing a change was 'incontrovertible'.
Although just one in eight licence holders is under 25, this age group is responsible for a disproportionately high number of accidents.
A third of drivers killed in road collisions are under 25. This rises to a
half of all drivers killed at night. Young male drivers showing off to girlfriends, who are subsequently killed in a smash, 'mean that young drivers are now the biggest killer of young women in this country', the report added.
It set out a series of 'graduated' restrictions to be relaxed over time along with a beefing up of the driving test. This includes:
• A zero alcohol limit for 12 months after candidates pass their test;
• For their first year on the road, newly-qualified drivers would not be allowed to carry passengers aged ten to 20 between the curfew hours of 11pm and 5am, when accidents are most likely;
• Learners must have a set number of hours with an Approved Driving Instructor;
• Lessons must include time in a dual-control vehicle and the test should be extended to include motorway driving;
• Hazard perception training to be mandatory;
Mrs Dunwoody added: 'Novice drivers are extremely vulnerable and pose considerable risks to their passengers and other road users.'
Reader views (13)
This problem is being talked of as though young drivers are the only road abusers, when in fact i've seen oap's who cause more chaos on the roads than young drivers. As I am into the customisation scene I've seen young irresponsible drivers first hand. But saying that, it is a minority and not the majority. Raising the age in which people can pass their test will not make the roads safer it could have the opposite effect and some young individuals with no regards for the law may not wait the extra year and drive totally untrained. Why take the chance?
- Ben Pearce, Essex, United Kingdom, 07/01/2008 16:15
Report abuse
How about just getting more traffic police on the roads? In London they've reduced the number by more than 50% in the last 10 years.
- Trevor Roll, London, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
Why don't they also recommend 'P' plates (provisionally qualified driver, for a year after passing the test). As well as zero alcohol I'd restrict these drivers to modestly powerful cars, and make a test re-take mandatory upon conviction for any driving offence more serious than slightly breaking a speed limit.
- Nigel, London, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
Germany is proposing to lower the age to 18... so much for EU harmonisation.
- Tomtom, Leeds England, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
If you watch any of those Police reality programmes where they chase idiots of all ages for miles causing carnage along the way, it's clear that the age isn't the problem, it's total disregard of the law. Tougher sentencing is what is needed.
Every one of those programmes ends with "16 year old Fred was found guilty of driving without a licence or insurance and dangerous driving. He was sentenced to a 3 month supervision order, a £2 a week fine and 6 points on a licence he doesn't have"! What is the point in changing any law if judges dish out punishments that are laughable.
- Emma, London, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
Raising the age restriction on driving is not going to change anything. There is no difference between a 17 year old and an 18 year old. It doesn't make any difference whether they are 18 or 25 there will still be irresponsible drivers. Increasing how long their lessons are and how many they take will help make them safer drivers. Many of the comments that I have looked at here all say the same thing. It's not the age that makes someone an unsafe driver it is how they are taught to drive and a lack of knowledge that they have on how to be a safe driver.
- Mark Mclean, York, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
I would like to say what a load of absolute rubbish this is. I have just passed my test and had to work incredibly hard just to pass that and pay for it, not to mention my tax and insurance etc on my car! It was so stressful, if there were extra tests and courses to pass students like myself wouldn’t be able to afford it. I have friends who cannot currently drive because they cant afford it, there would be no hope for them! I feel that just like anything in life there is a majority of people ruining for the rest of us and yes, those are the people that should be punished or banned. Perhaps the government would like to consider getting rid of OAPs from the road, seeing as one drove straight at me 2 weeks ago, like she hadn’t even seen me causing me to sound my horn and swerve! It’s not just young drivers that may be a problem! And another idea, maybe the government should lower the legal drinking age so youngsters can learn to drink responsibly before they even start to drive!
- Claire Carter, Lockerley, Hampshire., 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
The problem is kids of 18 are really no better than kids of 17, perhaps we should put them through a short course maybe a couple of days and show them the grizzly realities of dangerous driving, perhaps if they realise what could happen to them they may take it a bit more easy , also those who break the law and injure others should face a very lengthy ban.
- Brian, Wiltshire, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
I doubt that raising the minimum driving age to 18 will achieve anything other than perhaps cause car insurance companies to miss out on a little income. Age is not the underlying cause of the high number of road deaths in young drivers, it's experience or rather the lack thereof. If you raise the minimum driving age to 21, for argument's sake, you'll almost certainly face the same problem as those 21-24 year-old drivers will be in the same situation as 17-20 year-old drivers right now as both groups will be equally lacking in experience.
The only answer would be more stringent criteria for passing your driving test and harsher punishments for dangerous/reckless drivers.
- Darren, Luton, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
Raising the age restriction on driving will not help. An irresponsible 17-year-old is the same as an irresponsible 18-year-old.
If the government really wants to make the roads safer drivers must be better trained, this doesn't just mean make them take 12 months worth of lessons. When I had driving lessons three years ago I learned how to pass my test. The test is getting more difficult but drivers are still only learning how to pass NOT how to safely use the roads and their vehicles. Importantly some of the training needs to be carried out in a controlled environment where hazards and dangerous situations can be simulated and drivers tested on their ability to deal with these hazards.
And let's not forget other road users, older drivers (some of whom never had to take a test) need to be tested periodically.
Furthermore, to a reasonable extent foreign licences should be invalid and people caught driving without the proper credentials should face harsh punishment. Anyone who causes an accident without the proper driving credentials should be punished in a similar way to people caught with illegal weapons.
Put it this way: To make roads safer we 'stop 17 year olds driving' OR 'train drivers properly'. Which decision would an intelligent person make?
- Jon, Milton Keynes, UK, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
I think this is utterly stupid. It's not the age at all. It's teaching 17 year olds how to be safe on the roads that would save a lot of lives.
- Jamie, Surrey, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
Instead of a minimum 12-month learning period learner drivers should have to do a specific amount of hours driving with a qualified instructor to ensure they are capable. Allocating a time period over which they have to learn will not increase the amount of lessons people have.
I think that not allowing newly qualified drivers to carry passengers between 11 and 5 is stupid. Young people in towns will be ok as they have other methods of transport available to them, young people in rural locations will be disadvantaged as public transport is very limited especially at night.
I grew up in a rural location and I was very reliant on my car for some freedom, we always had a designated driver who did not drink anything and took us all home at then end of the night. Not allowing people to carry passengers will put young girls at risk as they will have to travel alone and walk to and from car parks etc on their own.
- Charlotte, Somerset, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
I passed my driving test when i was 17... big mistake. I actually think progressive driving lessons from very young teaches a respect for cars and the road, taking away the mystery of the car and allowing kids to get bored of the idea of it. Otherwise it's a lot of independence very soon, and for me, it was bad news after I went into a lamppost at 60 miles an hour, very nearly killing myself.
- Daveb, London, 07/01/2008 15:15
Report abuse
