The government has come under heavy fire for ducking the issue in the fight to save the lives of young drivers. Its proposed measures have been described as “a huge retreat”. None of this stopped civil servants trying to tell driving instructors that its limited reforms were on the right road.

Government civil servants went on tour yesterday to outline their political masters' plans to reduce young driver deaths – but there was virtually no mention of measures which protesters say are absolutely essential to the cause.

Campaigners believe the government has taken the easy route on the issue and are furious that it has turned its back on graduated licensing for learners – as put forward by the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign. More than 200 people turned up at a Manchester hotel to listen to the Driving Standards Agency outline proposals in a consultation paper.

One in five deaths on British roads involves newly qualified drivers and 16% more drivers aged 16-19 die now compared to 15 years ago.

But one of those responsible for drafting the ‘Learning to Drive’ consultation paper denied that it did not go nearly far enough to combat the situation highlighted by Wasted Lives.

Deputy Chief Executive of the Driving Standards Agency Nick Carter detailed the government’s proposals, announced in May and heralded as “a major overhaul of the learner driver system.”

They include changes to the theory and practical driving test, providing a pre-driver qualification in road safety, introducing a student workbook and providing a “star system” to help learners choose a driving instructor.

But they don’t include graduated licences, which would effectively increase the driving age to 18, or set requirements for the number of pre-test hours to be spent behind the wheel, as recommended by the Commons’ transport select committee, headed by the late Gwynneth Dunwoody last year.

Neither do they include a raft of other measures like passengers restrictions and night-time curfews for under 25s which backers of Wasted Lives campaign believe have been show to lead to reductions in young driver casualties in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada.

Driving instructors, fire officers, driving inspectors and others involved in road safety attended the North West presentation which is one of 13 around the country being held as part of the official consultation process before the government implements its plans.

Mr Carter said: “We believe the changes we are proposing will enable young people to learn more fully and raise standards of driving. There is no quick fix solution to this. You have to proceed sensibly.”

He said other regional meetings had been “broadly supportive” although there was “some nervousness” from driving instructors about a star rating system.

“Attitudes of young people are shaped by other young people rather than restrictions.”