The government is considering making young drivers wait to take their driving test as part of a plan to improve safety standards on the road.
In an exlclusive interview with auto Express, carry minister Stephen Hammond spelled out a number of ideaswhich are being considered by the department for Transport. and ensuring young drivers have sufficient experience on the road before taking their test is one of them.
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Hammond said: “You are about to see from this department a big piece of work going out to consultation on some ideas, and the meat and drink will be around people aged between 17 and 24.
“We recognise that they are the most vulnerable age group on the road, and there is some real concern that there are people who get their provisional licence one week, do a crammer course the next and then pass the test the week after.
“There is some interesting evidence that suggests we ought to have a period of time between gaining your provisional licence and taking your test, so you gain experience of the road. I think that is quite powerful. “When we put the consultation document out, we’ll leave that [the timeframe] open to some people’s suggestions, but I’d suggest somewhere between six to nine months is appropriate.”