Green paper on young drivers to be launched.

Young drivers could benefit from improved training and lower insurance premiums as the government confirmed its intention to launch a green paper on improving the safety and reducing risks to young drivers.

The proposals were unveiled at a summit for the motor insurance industry, hosted by the Department for Transport. Representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Department for Health and the consumer organisation uSwitch were also present. The government is expecting the changes to result in a reduction in the high cost of vehicle insurance currently facing motorists – especially young drivers.

A green paper looking at a range of options for improving the safety of newly-qualified drivers will be published later in the spring. Among the proposals being considered are:

• a minimum learning period before candidates are permitted to sit their test.

• enabling learner drivers to take lessons on motorways, and perhaps during adverse weather conditions or        during darkness to encourage greater practice prior to taking a test.

• increasing the existing probationary period from 2 to 3 years for a new driver’s licence to be revoked if     they receive 6 or more penalty points.

• making the driving test more rigorous to better prepare learners to drive unsupervised.

• incentives for young drivers to take up additional training after passing their test.

The government is also considering the possibility of imposing temporary restrictions on newly qualified drivers and further details will be included for discussion when the green paper is published.

The Department for Transport has also published some qualitative research on attitudes amongst young drivers and parents to driver training, driving and motor insurance.