Are Changes to Driving Test Age Afoot?
It’s no secret that a large number of car accidents are caused by young drivers. In fact, according to the Department for Transport, 22% of fatalities on British roads in 2011 were the fault of a driver aged between 17 and 24 – a figure that perhaps reflects the inexperience of recently qualified or irresponsible young adults.
With this in mind, the Department has drawn up some proposed changes to the laws concerning driving test ages and post-test regulations for new drivers. The document suggests changes to three main areas, as discussed below.
1. Pre-driver Education
Although the current age for those eligible for a full driving licence in the UK set at 17, learning the skills needed to be a safe and legal driver already begin much earlier. Pre-driver education (in some cases beginning as young as 12) does currently exist, but this government green paper proposes to shift the focus of this early developmental stage towards road safety, citing the need to address statistics surrounding young driver fatalities.
The Department for Transport has expressed concern regarding the lack of evaluation and standardisation of these courses (many being set up by independent bodies with little influence as to curriculum from a governing organisation), and the negative impact they may consequently have on young driver habits.
2. Graduated Driver Licensing
With proven efficacy in countries in which similar schemes have been implemented, graduated driver licensing aims to create safer drivers and reduce otherwise avoidable road traffic incidents. Proposed introductions include a minimum number of hours of on-road training, a minimum learning period and the introduction of a two-tier licensing stage encompassing novice and intermediate certification.
Each level would have certain restrictions, such as limited night time or motorway driving, reducing the dangers that exist in allowing a young, inexperienced driver to have the same privileges as experienced ones.
Statistics from countries that already employ GDL show that this system could save thousands of lives, as well as millions in savings on costs related to road traffic accidents.
3. The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act
Introduced in 1995, the New Drivers Act showed an immediate impact on accidents caused by recently passed drivers. The main focus of the act was to implement an introductory probation period of two years from the passing of the first practical driving test, giving the DVLA greater powers to revoke the licences of those drivers accruing 6 or more penalty points.
The report proposes to extend this period from 2 to 3 years, and estimates that this will see a further 3,200 new drivers having their licence removed, while another 4,200 would be deterred from committing driving offences because of the extension.
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