West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has backed six new driving rules for Birmingham and West Midlands motorists, urging the Labour government to go further in its road safety consultation. Foster's proposals include a mandatory six-month learning period, minimum supervised driving hours, and passenger restrictions for newly qualified drivers.
PCC Calls for Tougher Measures
Responding to the government's four-month consultation on introducing a minimum learning period for learner drivers, Foster warned that current proposals “do not go far enough.” He stated: “Too many lives are being lost or changed forever because of serious collisions involving new and inexperienced drivers. One in five drivers crash within a year of passing their test, and young drivers are disproportionately involved in serious and fatal collisions.”
Six Proposed Rules
In his submission, Foster outlined six new rules:
- A mandatory minimum six-month learning period before taking the practical driving test.
- A minimum number of supervised driving hours to gain experience in varied conditions.
- Mandatory e-learning modules on road safety.
- Late-night driving restrictions for newly qualified drivers during high-risk hours.
- Passenger restrictions for young drivers in the first months after passing, as collision risks increase with similar-aged passengers.
- Greater consideration of vehicle tracking or black box technology to encourage safe driving.
Impact on Young Drivers
Foster emphasized that these measures aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on roads, particularly young drivers and their passengers. “We need stronger safeguards to help new drivers gain experience safely and responsibly,” he added.
