Insurers want partial driving licence for young drivers

New drivers should not be given full licences straight away, says the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

They say it could help reduce the number of young people who die on the roads each year in the UK.

The ABI wants a scheme with different levels including restrictions on night-time driving and carrying passengers.

"Despite falling road accident figures, too many young people are being killed or seriously injured on our roads," said ABI spokesman Malcolm Tarling.

"Eighteen people a day are killed or injured in road crashes involving drivers under 25.

"One in four of our fatalities or serious injuries involves young drivers.

"We really need to take some action to make our young drivers safer for tomorrow."

The ABI is proposing a one-year learning period before young people take their driving test and a ban on taking intensive driving courses over a short period of time.

The organistaion wants stricter rules for newly-qualified drivers as well with a second driving test two years after getting a licence.

They also want restrictions on the number of passengers allowed in cars and on driving between 11pm and 4am.

"If we can bring the risk down, by encouraging safer, better driving, that will bring the cost of insurance down," said Malcolm Tarling.

"It is the only way in the long-term to reduce the cost of insurance for young drivers."