THE Wasted Lives campaign was launched in April 2007 in response to the high numbers of young people killed or seriously injured in road accidents.

Proposals to introduce a graduated driving licence where young people had to pass a series of modules before taking their test were welcomed by road safety campaigners, politicians and police.

Other aims included introducing a minimum driving age of 18, restrictions on young people having under-25s in their car and immediate bans for anyone who breaks the speed limit by 10mph. A petition was signed by 1,000 people in its first month.

Families whose loved ones had died in accidents also supported the campaign.

The Telegraph staged a major conference at Ewood Park with the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety in January 2008 at which David Mallaby, one of the county’s top police officers, backed the Wasted Lives campaign.

In July 2007 the House of Commons transport select committee published its study on the issue and recommended the introduction of a graduated licences.

But when the government launched a consultation in June 2008, graduated driving licences had been omitted.

This prompted East Lancashire MP Gordon Prentice to accuse Roads Minister Jim Fitzpatrick of making a ‘big mistake’ by ignoring the Telegraph’s demands.