Make driving tests tougher to cut tragic deaths on our roads, say instructors

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Three out of four said the driving test should be made more difficult.

The vast majority called for compulsory training in driving on motorways, dual carriageways, and at night and in bad weather.

A linked survey showed that almost nine

out of ten newly-qualified drivers believe their test was not tough enough.

A quarter said they had been involved in a crash because of a lack of skill and a further 17 per cent reported near misses.

The surveys add weight to the Daily Mail's campaign for the driving age to be raised from 17.

Road crashes are now the biggest cause of death for people in their teens and twenties. The Commons

Transport Select Committee is currently carrying out a review of the L-test, and considering calls for the driving age to be lifted to 18.

The road safety charity Brake wants 'graduated licences', with newly- qualified drivers initially barred from driving at night or carrying more than one passenger.

Another option is a system like the one in Sweden, where drivers must put in 120 hours of training before taking the test.

The survey of driving instructors, by the Direct Line insurance company, found 75 per cent had serious concerns about the tests and even more had worries about the skills it does not cover.

Asked which areas needed strengthening, 88 per cent said rural driving, 84 per cent motorways, 78 per cent dual carriageways, 73 per cent all-weather drivingand 72 per cent driving at night.

Direct Line also questioned motorists and found that an astonishing 89 per cent of those who had passed their test in the past two years would like to see candidates given a tougher examination.

More than a fifth of all motorists admitted they had felt unprepared to drive alone after gaining a full licence.

A spokesman for Brake said last night: "We're not surprised by the findings. At the moment you can do the test on your 17th birthday after a couple of lessons with your mum and dad, not even a professional instructor.

"As a result young people are killing themselves and others because they're over-confident and not properly trained."