'Graduated licence' scheme would raise minimum driving age to 18

The scheme is based on a "graduated driving licence" under which learner drivers have to spend at least 12 months on their L-plates, which means they will have to drive under supervision.

Although this would apply to learners of any age, it effectively raises the minimum age for a full licence from 17 to 18.

The idea has been supported by key road safety groups and the Association of British Insurers and was also the subject of a campaign by the Daily Mail.

Yesterday it was welcomed as a "positive move" to cut the death toll on our roads.

Jools Townsend of the campaign group Brake said: "We sincerely hope the Government is finally waking up to the need to tackle the horrifying death toll involving young drivers."

In July, a damning report by the all-party Transport Select Committee demanded a revamp to novice driver training.

It said more than 1,000 people a year - a third of them drivers - are killed in crashes involving a driver aged 17 to 25.

Yesterday the Department of Transport made its official response to the report.

As well as the graduated licence, ministers will consider a "logbook" system which requires learners to have a minimum number of structured driving lessons.

They will also look at a "zero" drink-drive limit for young novice drivers, but admitted this could have practical difficulties.

The Government will set out the details of its proposals in a consultation document to be issued later this winter.

On reform of the driving test, the department's report said: "The Government will not propose any lowering of the minimum provisional licensing age without evidence that this would have a positive effect."

But it stresses: "We agree that learning to drive should be guided by a structured syllabus, and this is an important element in the proposals we are developing."

Association of British Insurers' director of general insurance Nick Starling said the evidence for raising the driving age was "incontrovertible".

He added: "This is vindication of the campaign by the Daily Mail, the insurance industry and road safety groups to raise the driving age to 18 and cut the tragic death toll on our roads.

"Every day three young drivers are killed or seriously injured. Every one is a personal tragedy."