Biba welcomes delays to young driver reforms

Biba has welcomed delays to the green paper on young driver reforms saying it is ‘sensible’ to take more time to give further consideration to the reforms.

The reforms are aimed at reducing the number of young motorists being injured on Britain’s roads.

These changes could include lowering the age at which young motorists can learn to drive to extend the learning period, as well as restrictions on driving times and the number of passengers a young motorist can drive with.

Biba executive director Graeme Trudgill said: “Biba has been working for some time now with the Department for Transport on the proposals for the green paper. Although we were hoping for the paper by the end of 2013, it is sensible that government carefully considers the impact of some of the proposed measures and does not rush into a decision.

“Our members have reservations that some of the ideas, including those imposing restrictions on when young motorists are able to drive or how many occupants they are allowed to have in their vehicle, could have unintended consequences on young people, for example those working later hours or younger parents transporting relatives.”

“These proposals could also be potentially difficult to enforce,” he added.