HUHNE CALLS FOR TOUGHER TESTS FOR YOUNG DRIVERS

3.14.58pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th Mar 2007

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne has called for tougher tests for young drivers following an accident in the town that has left one 12 year old youngster fighting for his life after being hit outside the Swan Centre.

Mr Huhne said that the case in which the youngster was apparently hit by a 17 year old motorbike rider last Thursday had highlighted the need for much more awareness among young men in particular of the dangers of speed and the power of both motorbikes and cars.

He said there was a growing trend of casualties among young drivers and their passengers with deaths across the country among 16-19 year olds hitting 151 in the most recent available figures compared with 113 in 2000.

"Young men seem to be particularly prone to accidents with more than three times as many male deaths and women deaths among drivers aged from 17 to 25.

Mr Huhne said that the issue had been raised with him by Andy Moore and other local campaigners in Eastleigh following the accident. Mr Huhne said that he had also been told about worries concerning unlicensed mini-motos, though it was not clear that this was such a case.

Mr Huhne backed the graduated licensing system proposed by the road safety charity Brake. This would ensure a minimum one year learner period, followed by two year "novice period" in which the young driver would be restricted, and only after three years would the driver get a full licence.

In Northern Ireland, novices display R (restricted) plates for a year after passing their driving test and have a 45 mph speed limit.

Mr Huhne said that the Department of Transport also had to look at ways of ensuring that any motor bike that could be ridden at speed was properly registered.