Road safety officers welcome new driver training and testing proposals

A leading national road safety body has welcomed the long-awaited Government consultation on driver training and testing to help cut the numbers of drivers and passengers killed or injured in road crashes.

Simon Ettinghausen, Young Driver Adviser for LARSOA, the Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association, said: “We are pleased the Government has come forward with proposals to improve the way learner drivers prepare for their driving careers.  In particular, we welcome the new foundation course for 14 to 16 year olds which will be piloted in Scotland this Autumn.  If it proves effective, we hope it will be rolled out across the country without delay.

“We are pleased the Government is proposing an improved driving test focusing on wider skills, knowledge and attitudes rather than just safe car control as well as providing better feedback at the end of the test.  We support the new competence framework  which will help focus learners’ attention on what they need to master.  We also support the move away from a fault-based marking system to one focusing on evidence of competence rather than weakness.  

“We welcome the proposal to make it easier for learners to choose an effective instructor by introducing a star rating system based on pass rates and the level of training the instructor has undergone.  This, coupled with the proposed review of instructor training, should go a long way to improving the standards of training learners can expect to receive.

“Although the Government has said it has not been persuaded to introduce a minimum learning period and restrictions on newly-qualified drivers similar to those in other countries, we are pleased the consultation paper discusses them and we hope they will be open to further debate.”

Simon added: “Quite rightly, young people have been involved in developing the proposals now being put forward.  The Government is keen to hear what young people think of them and has set up a website with tailor-made materials at learningtodrive.dsa.gov.uk

LARSOA urges young people to respond to the consultation so the Government can take their views into account when developing the final proposals.”

Notes to Newsdesks/Reporters: For further information please contact Peter Whelan Jnr on 01287 610404 or 07983 288388.

ABOUT LARSOA

LARSOA is a national road safety organisation representing road safety officers (RSOs) employed in local government across the UK.

LARSOA represents 185 of the 200 eligible local authorities across the UK, assisting RSOs to fulfil their statutory role to reduce the number and severity of road casualties through education, training and publicity programmes.

LARSOA publishes an up-to-date round-up of road safety news from across the UK on its website www.larsoa.org.uk .

LARSOA also aims to influence national debate - government policy and action together with public opinion. The association works to achieve national recognition for road safety issues, commissions research into behaviour which contributes to road collisions and develops national road safety campaigns.

The association assists in identifying achievable national targets to reduce the number of collisions on the country's roads.