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Roger Williams MP |
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WILLIAMS MEETS WITH DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT TO IMPROVE YOUTH ROAD SAFETY
August 3, 2010 9:24 AM
Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, met with Mike Penning MP, Minister of State at the Department for Transport, on Tuesday to discuss ways in which to make young drivers safer on the road.
Mr Williams was joined at the meeting by Dr Sarah Jones of Cardiff University, who has been researching Graduated Driver Licences (GDL). These act as an intermediate phase between being a learner driver and acquiring a full driving licence during which time newly qualified drivers can learn new skills such as driving on motorways and gain more driving experience under the safest conditions.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Williams said:
"There are far too many occasions where young people are seriously or fatally injured in road traffic accidents (RTAs). This is not solely a rural problem but an urban one too and is common in the summer months when drivers assume they are safer due to improved weather and longer daylight hours.
"We suggested at the meeting that the Department for Transport should look into ways in which to reduce the amount of RTAs, particularly amongst young people. One of the suggestions was to introduce a GDL as a way of helping new young drivers to improve their skills and increase their driving experience, whilst reducing exposure to the most dangerous conditions, such as driving at night or with similar aged passengers.
"The minister was keen to see if a graduated system could be introduced via the insurance companies, by them offering substantially reduced premiums to people who volunteer to become intermediate drivers after passing their driving test. He will now raise the issue with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and some of the larger insurance companies.
"This is a positive step as not only would this improve the safety of the driver, their passengers and other road users, it would also reduce the premiums paid, often by parents, and the money paid out by insurance companies through a reduction in accidents.
"It is essential that young drivers have the necessary skills and experience to be safe on Britain's roads and this is a step in the right direction."
NOTES:
Roger Williams MP tabled the following Early Day Motion in Parliament recently on this issue (no. 184), and he has received cross-party support for it:
That this house recognises that the number of Road Traffic Accidents involving young people has increased over recent years; notes that the introduction of Graduated Driver Licences in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, USA and some European countries has reduced the number of deaths and injuries associated with young drivers; acknowledges that the introduction of these schemes has proved popular with many young drivers in other countries by giving them a sense of empowerment and confidence in their driving ability; further notes that the introduction of a similar scheme in the UK would lead to a reduction in the number of people killed on British roads, particularly young people; understands that the introduction of a scheme could result in an estimated 15 less deaths, 1000 fewer casualties and a saving to the economy of £56m each year in Wales alone; and calls on the Department for Transport to look at ways in which a pilot scheme could be introduced in Britain to determine the impact it would have on road safety.
The EDM can be seen here: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=41107&SESSION=905
Dr Sarah Jones is a Consultant in Public Health, Public Health Wales / Powys Local Public Health Team and an Honorary Senior Lecturer, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University
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