Keith Brown, Scotland’s transport minister, has challenged the UK Government to take action on graduated driver licensing (GDL) “without further delay”.
Mr Brown says there is “clear and unambiguous evidence” to show that GDL reduces the crash rate for new and young drivers.
The Scottish Government is calling on the UK Government to consider proposals for GDL, which is currently a reserved matter, or transfer powers to Scotland.
Keith Brown said: “I’m calling for the UK Government to take action on GDL without further delay. I consider that I am acting in the interests of the people of Scotland.
“However, should UK ministers ultimately decide not to move forward on this issue, I would ask again that they devolve the necessary powers to Scottish ministers.
“Young people aged 17-25 make up 10% of licence holders yet they account for 23% of drivers involved in injury road accidents over the last five years in Scotland.
“The evidence base shows that GDL remains the only young driver intervention for which there is clear and unambiguous evidence to show that it reduces the crash rate for new and young drivers.
“One death is one too many and when there is clear evidence of an intervention which may save up to 19 lives per year on our roads in Scotland, we must pursue that opportunity.”
Click here to read the full Transport Scotland news release.
I think there is great merit in this (GDL). In all walks of life there is no substitute for experience, we all continue to learn so why not for driving? One could also include basic PTW training, so that all future drivers would have an appreciation of what it is like. Personally I would like to see this progressed.
john bowman
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Maybe the Scottish minister will do this after devolution and allow English ministers to determine English law even though it should be sooner rather than later.
peter westminster
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