1. Novice drivers are among the most vulnerable drivers on our roads. It is eight years since the Transport Sub-committee of the Environment, Transport and Rural Affairs Committee published its Report on Young and Newly-Qualified Drivers.[1] In that time, there has been little progress in tackling the problem of road deaths and injuries among novice drivers. This is in stark contrast to the success there has been in reducing road casualties across the population as a whole.

2. Because of this lack of progress, we decided to revisit the subject and examine the potential for more radical measures which would be more effective in reducing casualties. We announced the terms of reference for the inquiry on 2 November 2006.[2] The Department for Transport subsequently published its Second Review of the Road Safety Strategy, in which it committed to undertake a thorough review of the way people learn to drive and are tested. The Department told us that it was "very open-minded about what should go into that consultation document at this stage."[3] We hope to see evidence that the Department is true to its word and that bold measures will be given proper consideration. The appalling collision rate of novice drivers clearly demonstrates that the problem must not be ignored. "Do nothing" is not an option. We will return to this issue in the next year to review progress. In the meantime, we recommend that the Department, as part of its consultation process, undertake further analysis of the collision-involvement rates among young drivers, distinct from newly-qualified drivers.

3. In this report we present a selection of measures to address the novice driver problem. There is evidence which demonstrates the potential effectiveness of each measure. Introducing all of these measures would be an approach which would aim to reduce risk on all fronts. But if the Department were to pick and choose between the package of potential measures, such decisions must be clearly supported by evidence. The scale of deaths and injuries amongst novice drivers and the victims of their inexperience indicates that the current regulatory regime is failing. If the whole package of recommendations in this report were to be implemented, the UK would then have one of the most rigorous driver training, testing and post-test regimes in Europe. But for these measures to be fully effective, the Government must ensure that people are not able to bypass the system altogether and drive on our roads unlicensed and uninsured. It is believed that nationally something in the region of one million people are driving without a valid licence.[4] The Government's first priority must be to tackle the growing "underclass" of drivers who are on the roads illegally. Otherwise the impact of any attempt to improve road safety by addressing the licensing framework, driver education and driving behaviour will be lost.

4. In the course of this inquiry we took evidence from road safety groups, the police, motoring organisations, the insurance industry, driving instructors and examiners, the unions, academics, local authorities, the Driving Standards Agency and the Minister for Transport, Dr Stephen Ladyman MP. We are grateful to all those who gave written and oral evidence, and in particular to our Specialist Adviser, Robert Gifford of PACTS. We would also like to thank RAC for inviting the Committee to observe a focus group of young novice drivers.

2   See Press Notice 81/2005-06, http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/transport_committee/trans05_06_press_notice81.cfm  Back

3   Ev 109 Back

4   HC Deb, 21 November 2006, col 36W. In March 2006 the police randomly stopped nearly 6,000 vehicles in compliance checks and 1.6% of vehicles were non-compliant with driver licensing requirements. Back