'Teach children to drive' says insurer

BRITISH children should be taught how to drive at school to help reduce road deaths and serious injury among young drivers.

Insurer Flexed says we should follow the example of schools in the USA and introduce driver education lessons. These classes will teach basic driving skills, road etiquette and safety, which will improve awareness and also help with improving driving test exam results.

Children at infant school should also be taught the basics of road safety and crossing the road, while primary schools could offer road safety classes and cycling proficiency lessons. For children aged 11- to 18-years old, the Highway Code and basic driving skills should form part of the lesson plan.

Flexed’s Mark Hall said: ‘Figures show that a third of those killed or injured are under 30, and one of the major reasons for that is a lack of education and experience. Driving is a virtually universal skill that's used by the majority of adults in this country. Why it's not taught in our schools and colleges is beyond me.

‘Teach our kids how to drive, and they've got something they can take – safely – out into the adult world.’

By Press Association reporters