YOUNG people today admitted to ‘shocking’ levels of speeding on the roads.

A big survey by Brake, the Huddersfield-based national road safety charity, found more than half (56%) of British youngsters surveyed admitted having been a passenger in a car driven by a young driver at more than 40mph in a 30mph zone or at more than 70mph on a rural road.

It found 23% had raced on a public road as a driver or passenger and 10% had overtaken another vehicle at speed without a clear view of oncoming traffic.

And 58% of young passengers who had been driven by a speeding young driver said they had not asked the driver to slow down.

Now Brake is calling for the Government to introduce Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), where new drivers must pass driving tests in stages.

GDL has reduced casualties among young people in countries including New Zealand, the report says.

Graduated driver licensing systems (GDLS) are designed to provide new drivers of motor vehicles with driving experience and skills gradually over time in low-risk environments.

There are typically three steps or stages through which new drivers pass.

They begin by acquiring a learner’s permit, progress to a restricted, provisional or probationary licence, followed by receipt of a full driver’s licence.

There may also be limits imposed on the number of passengers in the vehicle.

Learner drivers may also be required to complete a logbook of their driving experience.

Those who receive an intermediate, provisional or probationary licence may drive without supervision, although driving at certain times (typically after midnight until around sunrise).

Driving with passengers in the vehicle may require the presence of a supervising driver who is fully licensed.

Road crashes were the biggest killer of young people aged 15 to 24 in 2008, according to Government statistics.

The survey was made in conjunction with courier FedEx for Brake’s “2young2die” campaign.

Ellen Booth, Brake campaigns officer, said: “Many young people get a thrill from driving fast with their friends in the car.

“But because of the way young people’s brains develop, they often don’t yet have the ability to control their thrill-seeking tendencies.

“They often feel invincible and over-estimate their power to get out of trouble.

“Brake is urging the government to take steps now to stop more families suffering the devastation of the death of a teenager.”