Commenting on Ruth Kelly’s announcement today on changes to the driving test and the driver learning process, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said:

"With more than 5,000 new young drivers involved in accidents in their first year of driving, it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that they are equipped with the skills and experience necessary to keep themselves and other road users safe.

"However, road safety will not be guaranteed by just making the driving test harder. Transport schemes need to be designed for the safety of all road users, not just motorists.

"We need a thorough overhaul of the Government’s appraisal system, which currently puts the motorists first and downgrades the importance of pedestrians, cyclists and bus users."

The figures were revealed in a Parliamentary Answer to the Liberal Democrats:

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents in England in 2006 involved drivers who were 17 years of age. [183639]

Jim Fitzpatrick: In 2006, there were 5,860 reported personal injury road accidents in England involving at least one driver aged 17 years old.