Young drivers ‘need more experience' says police sergeant

7:00pm Thursday 27th December 2007

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A DORSET traffic officer has backed plans to extend the driving test, effectively increasing the driving age to 18.

According to reports, the government is considering expanding the test meaning learner drivers, who can still get a provisional licence at 17, will have to spend more time with a qualified instructor before they are able to take the practical test.

Instructors will tick off required key driving skills, including night driving and driving on high speed roads, which could mean learner drivers spend up to 500 hours behind the wheel before taking their test.

Experienced road traffic policeman at Ferndown road policing unit Sgt Steve Quill believes increasing the time young drivers spend with an instructor would make the roads safer.

He said: "Anything that educates people from the start of their driving career, making them aware of the safety issues of driving on today's busy roads, has got to be a good thing.

"Driving instruction over a longer period of time increases the likelihood that the learner driver will meet different driving conditions which with the benefit of instruction at the time those different conditions arose, should make them a better driver in the long term.

"At the moment if you pass the theory test and pick up the practical side of driving quickly you could have six lessons and then put in for a test and pass."

There are plans to make the practical test more stringent including driving on a dual carriageway and turning right at a busy junction.

Hopefully more driving experience would mean fewer crashes involving young people.

Road safety figures show one in five new teenage drivers have an accident with in a year of passing their test.

Sgt Quill said that he thought the driving test should evolve to take into account changes in driving conditions, increased traffic and different vehicle handling.

However he added that more instruction will make it more expensive to learn to drive.

He said: "As a father with a daughter who will soon be asking for driving lessons, I would like there to be a fixed fee for getting a driving licence because the prospect of an unknown amount of time with driving instructors at £15 quite daunting. There could also be a reduction in insurance premiums for drivers who have passed the extended test."

He added that this could be an ideal time for the government to consider limiting the engine size of cars newly qualified drivers could use in their first year of driving.

• THE Daily Echo is launching a campaign on Monday January 7, aimed at helping to cut the number of fatal accidents involving young drivers on our roads.

In a series of news stories, features and interviews we will be highlighting the issues and looking at a range of proposals which could help reduce the tragic toll of death and serious injury.

Please join the debate. you can email your views to newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk