WILLIAMS LEADS DELEGATION TO WALES OFFICE TO DISCUSS ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

9.18.55am GMT Thu 4th Mar 2010

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, today led a delegation of MPs to Gwydyr House to discuss the issue of road traffic accidents in Wales.

Speaking after the meeting, Roger Williams said:

"Although for most age groups road traffic accident figures are improving, the numbers of accidents involving young drivers have increased over recent years resulting in the deaths of too many young people.

"While young drivers may have enough experience to pass a driving test they do not necessarily have the experience to deal with the situations that occur when out driving, particularly in rural roads.

"In many countries across the world it has been recognised that this is a problem and Graduated Driving Licences have been introduced.

"These have proved particularly successful in New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada and many European countries in bringing down the number of fatalities amongst young drivers.

"Not only has it had a positive impact in relation to youth driving fatalities and injuries but there is also an economic benefit associated with reducing the number of road traffic accidents.

"I feel that introducing a GDL pilot scheme in the UK to see whether such a program can bring down the number of deaths amongst young British drivers would be a good step forward and the Minister agreed to write to both the Welsh Assembly and the Department for Transport as well as raising it with Welsh Police Forces at a forthcoming meeting."