GOVERNMENT plans that could see young motorists face a longer, tougher driving test were backed today by a Huddersfield road safety group.
Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake the national road safety charity, welcomed the moves - announced yesterday.
She said: "We are pleased that the Government is finally putting the spotlight on the alarming death toll among young drivers and considering ways to improve the process of learning to drive.
"However, Brake is calling for the Government to introduce, as a matter of urgency, a comprehensive Graduated Driver Licensing System and not half-hearted changes which would not fully tackle the problems."
The Department for Transport has asked the Driver Standards Agency to review the driving test and driver training.
Extending the test is one option being considered, as are lessons on public roads from the age of 16 and the inclusion of safe driving principles in the school curriculum.
Robin Cummins, the DSA's former chief driving examiner and now road safety consultant to the BSM driving school, said he was keen to see a longer test for young drivers.
He went on: "Extending the test - even by as little as five minutes - gives a far better idea of a candidate's driving ability.
"The current test is pretty good as it is, but it only goes so far."
Mr Cummins said he also supported the Pass Plus scheme being run at the moment under which newly-qualified drivers undergo further instruction in such things as night-time and motorway driving.
