GRADUATED DRIVING LICENCES

That this House deplores the fact that in 2005, 846 young drivers were killed on UK roads; notes that the introduction of a graduated licensing system in New Zealand led to a reduction of 23 per cent. in car crashes involving 15 to 19 year old drivers and a 12 per cent. reduction in crashes involving 20 to 24 year old drivers, and that the introduction of a graduated licensing system in California led to a 20 per cent. reduction in crashes where 16 year old drivers were either injured or caused the crash; acknowledges that Department for Transport research suggests that a 12-month minimum learning period would reduce UK deaths and serious injuries by 1,000 each year; and supports calls from Brake, the national road safety charity, for the Government to introduce a graduated licensing system incorporating a minimum 12-month learning period and restrictions on novice drivers for the first two years following their test, including the size of engine they can drive, time of day they can travel, and number of passengers they can carry, to allow young drivers to build skills and experience gradually and help prevent the tragic deaths of young drivers, their passengers, other road users and pedestrians.