Young Drivers should learn for a year before taking Driving Test

      Young drivers should learn for a year before taking test.

RAC Foundation has called for one-year learning period for learner drivers, as a way to reduce high death rate in newly qualified young drivers.

It is is calling for a one-year minimum learning period – during which candidates would have to gain experience of driving in darkness and in different road and driving conditions.

It is also suggestion that newly qualified drivers should not be allowed to carry passengers for a year after the test and if any offence is carried out within 2 years then the licence should be revoked.

Northern Ireland, already has similar measures and are looking for ways to further tighten here licensing scheme.

One in five young drivers has an accident in the first six months after passing the test and young drivers are three times more likely to die on Britain's roads than the average driving licence holders. The think tank found that in 2011 1,552 motorists in the 17-24 age range were  killed or seriously injured in 2011. “Also it is estimated that  a full package of measures could reduce fatalities by anything up to 60%."

Stephen Hammond, the Road Safety  minister, said: "Improving young drivers' safety is a priority for us – that is why we have already improved the driving test so that it better reflects real-life conditions on the road, rather than focusing on specific manoeuvres.

"We are also considering a range of options to ensure learners and newly qualified drivers are properly prepared for the road and we will publish our proposals later in the year."

In US and Australia there was  a sharp drop in casualties after placing extra conditions on new drivers. 

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