"Room for debate" on minimum driving age increase

MOTORISTS are concerned about the minimum driving age, according to new research.

More than a third of drivers (35%) think the minimum age should be raised, with 40% of those people believing the starting point should be 21, according to the study carried out by British Car Auctions (BCA).

Four in 10 of all people questioned said they felt that a reduction in the overall accident rate would be a welcome outcome of an adjustment of the legal minimum driving age.

But training should not stop after the driving test, according to the 42% of drivers who think regular re-training should be compulsory. Among those in favour of such a move, 52% were in favour of retests every 10 years.

BCA’s Tim Naylor commented “While a third of motorists expressed concerns about younger drivers, with a belief that road accidents would be reduced if the minimum driving age was raised, our research also showed that over half (58%) of drivers feel that the minimum age is fine as it is.

“Overall, this underlines there is plenty of room for debate on this topic.”

By Press Association reporter