MP Wins Debate on Young Drivers and Road Safety

Tags: driving | Press Release | safety

Thursday, 10 July 2008 00:00

Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, will be highlighting the death and destruction on our roads caused by young drivers in a Commons debate next Wednesday (16 July). He will be highlighting the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign which has called for a new approach involving probationary or graduated licences. The Pendle MP's East Lancashire colleague, Greg Pope will also be joining the debate. Speaking earlier today, the MP said: "We know that some young men behind the wheel can be a menace to themselves and to others and we need to do something about it. Six times as many young male drivers age 21 or under are killed in road accidents as young women of the same age. It is a horrifying roll call of carnage." The MP raised the issue in the Commons on Tuesday, challenging the Government to act. The MP told Transport Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick: "Six times as many young men under 21 are killed on our roads when driving compared with young women. Young men are the problem, so what are we doing to address that issue? The Minister replied: "Newly qualified drivers, particularly young men, feature disproportionately among those who are killed and seriously injured. The new qualification that we will take into schools and youth clubs will address the culture of being a passenger as well as the prospect of being a driver. It will deal with how someone should act towards other users in a courteous manner, as well as how to deal with peer pressure, because their girlfriend or boyfriend is in the car, or their mates are in the back trying to gee them up. That is very much a matter of trying to make people more mature in their approach to driving, and the qualification about which my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr asked (the foundation course on safe road use for people planning to learn to drive) is very much part of preparing people for driving. In addition, by fundamentally reviewing the exam, we will test whether people are able to drive, not just manoeuvre a vehicle. Note to Editors: The Government's consultation paper: Learning to Drive is out for consultation until 8 September

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 October 2008 20:26 )