DfT review includes driver testing and training revamp  

Dr Stephen Ladyman, road safety minister, last week confirmed a fundamental overhaul of driver training and testing.

The DfT's Three Year Review of Road Safety Strategy recommends a new approach to educating young people about road safety and teaching them to drive. This will include the introduction of a new competency and knowledge framework, a modern training syllabus and new assessment criteria.

Dr Ladyman said: "Driving instructors do a very good job, but the systems they are required to operate within no longer reflect the demands of our modern world. Educating young drivers is a serious issue. We know that, of the fatal accidents where blame could be assigned, young drivers were nearly 12 times more likely to be at fault than older drivers.

"We must change perceptions about driving and road safety. The only way to achieve this is to educate young people in a different way about the dangers of driving badly, and so positively influence their long-term behaviour and habits. And that means introducing a more rigorous system of instruction and testing."

LARSOA welcomed the driver training and testing overhaul. A spokesperson said: "LARSOA has long believed that an overhaul of driver training and testing has been necessary, and we look forward to taking part in the consultation process.

"Young, inexperienced drivers pose a high risk to safety. They can be a danger to themselves, other road users and pedestrians.

" While we are making good progress towards achieving road safety targets, we cannot be complacent. We must look for new and innovative ways of getting road safety messages across to all road users."

The Review, which sets out the framework for delivering the 2010 targets, includes:

Increased enforcement combined with continued educative publicity on important issues, particularly drink driving and seatbelt wearing;

A complete overhaul of the way people learn and maintain safe driving skills - starting from an early age;

Consistent speed limits across the country by 2011 and further encouragement of 20pmh limits;

Informing consumers about the safety benefits of accident avoidance technologies to help them make more informed choices when buying a car;

Helping local authorities to continue to deliver improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, including training and infrastructure;

Continuing to work with the motorcycling industry and users to implement the Government's motorcycling strategy.

The Three Year Review of Road Safety Strategy can be found at: http://www.gnn.gov.uk