Wasted Lives campaign: Minister defends driving proposals (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Wasted Lives campaign: Minister defends driving proposals

9:28am Wednesday 22nd April 2009 in News By David Watkinson, Deputy news editor

TRANSPORT minister Jim Fitzpatrick thanked the Lancashire Telegraph for the Wasted Lives campaign — but defended the Government’s proposals.

The long-awaited response to last year’s consultation sets out the changes that will now be phased into driving tests over the next 12 months.

Key parts are a new driving qualification for teenagers and an “independent driving” part of the test.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: “The Wasted Lives campaign has done so much to raise awareness of road safety and I thank you for that.

“Restriction is a relevant issue but we don’t believe it is the way to go forward.

“We want the new driver training to be so good that we are producing young drivers that are extremely well prepared for the road whatever car they are driving.

“It is all about attitude and behaviour behind the wheel and we will be introducing more pre-driver training.”

The pre-test qualification for 14 to 17-year-olds will cover tips on being “safe outside of a car” for pedestrians and cyclists, advice on the cost of owning and running a car, and the Highway Code.

During their final test, drivers will also be told to drive without instructions from the examiner to test ability to drive independently.

Drivers’ instructors will be told to sit in on students’ tests, to explain to unsuccessful candidates why they failed.

The changes come as the Government launches a consultation into plans to cut the speed limit on all residential roads to 20mph.