Government considers tougher driving test

The government is looking into the possibility of making the driving test much harder.

Other options it is considering to improve safety for new drivers include safe driving education being introduced into the school curriculum, according to a report in The Times last week. The Swedish system under which drivers undergo 120 hours of training before taking a test is also being reviewed.

Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman said that too often 'you first learn to pass the test and then you learn to drive'.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is looking at ways of improving road safety with a consultation likely later in the year. The DfT said no firm proposals had yet been put forward.

But Mr Ladyman told the Times: "We may need to start doing driver education while young people are still at school, introducing them to the rules, dangers and responsibilities of the road at a much earlier age.

"It's an option to have more formal training. We have to debate whether there should be some level of compulsion."

Studies by the DfT suggest that young men are most successful at the test itself - but that those aged 17-20 are almost 10 times more likely to die or be seriously injured while driving compared with men aged 40-59.

Robin Cummins, the DSA's former chief driving examiner and now road safety consultant to the BSM driving school, said he would like to see longer tests. "Extending the test - even by as little as five minutes - gives a far better idea of a candidate's driving ability," he said.

"The current test is pretty good as it is, but it only goes so far. We need to get the importance of road safety across to young people as soon as possible by instructing them in schools."

A DfT spokeswoman said: "We have one of the toughest driving tests in the world and we think driving instructors offer drivers very good training. But we have all seen the statistics for young driver accidents and this is something that we need to take seriously and have a look at."

For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6223887.stm

25.09.06 - Drivers 'need year of lessons'