Young drivers need six-month 'graduate' licence, says AA

Drivers aged under 21 who have just passed their tests should be prevented from carrying passengers of a similar age for their first six months as drivers, the AA has said.

It suggested tougher new rules that would also see the same motorists to be handed six penalty points for not wearing a seatbelt during the period - meaning they would lose their licence.

The motoring organisation says the proposal for a particular type of licence targeted at new, young drivers has the potential to save lives.

Similar measures - known as a graduated driving licencing (GDL) - are already in place in countries including the US, Canada, Australia and Sweden.

If it was brought in for the UK, it would mean young drivers marking their vehicles with G plates.

The AA estimates that introducing GDL in the UK would save at least 58 lives and prevent 934 people being seriously injured in road collisions each year.

Department for Transport (DfT) figures show 290 people were killed and 4,669 were seriously injured in crashes on Britain's roads last year involving at least one driver aged 17-24.

Speaking the number of accidents involving young people, the AA's chief executive Jakob Pfaudler said it was not only "a tragic waste of life" but also pushed insurance premiums for younger drivers.

"These premiums should fall when there is evidence of a reduction of young drivers and passengers killed and seriously injured," he said.

"Graduated driver licensing has been proven in other countries to significantly reduce road deaths and serious injuries."