As a 'new driver' I have to say that I'd place a fair amount of blame for the 20% of deaths on the driving instructors. I was taught by my Dad and passed first try, despite being told at my one and only 'professional' lesson that I would fail - because I was driving too slowly!

Sarah, Coventry,

Explaining what to do in a situation is of little use, only the ability to apply it is, whether the action is instinctive or learned. What would dyslexics do? But the route is a good idea, as it is a real use. Also,who is at fault for the 20%? New drivers are safer than many long-term drivers i know

Nick Burns, Nottingham,

Driving lessons taken after 18th birthday, a limit on power to weight ratio of car or engine/power ratio i.e a 1.0 litre max power limit not exceeding 45kw. Restrictions on passenger numbers and a zero alcohol limit on the driver. What about a recap test after 1 year to correct any problems.

Gavin, Hull, UK

Jim I would have to disagree, I have been driving less than 2 years and I truly feel that most older drivers are much worse at observing the highway code than I. Complaicency?.
I agree that the theory test is ridiculously easy, insulting infact, of all my friends not one got below 70 out of 75.

Kieran, St Andrews,

I think this is not going to change anything. In my opinion having difftcult tests does not make any sense at all. Theory will not help in practice. I think after passing such a difficult test, young drivers think they have licence and they are perfect now but perfection comes with experience....

Sajjad, Cambridge,

I`ve been driving for the past 40 years , and I know as well as anybody else , that as soon as a driver is qualified s/he throws the highway code out of the window .

Jim, Sidcup,

Far better would be mandatory retests every 5 to 10 years.

David, Cheshire,

Passing one's driving test should represent that start of a one-year 'stickered' probationary period, during which novice drivers are subject to certain restrictions. My starting point would be restricting them to a single passenger, a night-time curfew, a zero alcohol limit and a 60MPH speed limit.

Chris W, Kendal,

The government's restructuring of GCSEs has made kids manifestly smarter than before, so a similar reworking of the driving test is sure to make everyone safer. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm sure I just saw two pigs flap past my window...

Phil, Brentwood, England

I think the navigating to a hospital/railway station is an excellent idea,

However the idea of giving instructors a star-grading based on pass rate is flawed and means they'll go for younger pupils rather than older ones and those with special needs

Maria McCarthy, Sidmouth, UK

It has been shown that government interference normally makes things worse. There is no mention here of one scrap of research or evidence. Britain has some of the best accident figures in the world. Enforcing existing laws would help; we don't want even more unnecessary change.

George , Bolton, England

What's the point?

Once they begin:
1. driving in the middle lane of motorways overtaking no-one
2. tailgating
3. circling roundabouts entirely in the outside lane
4. ignoring lane discipline
etc

with NO punishment and traffic police interest, what's the point? Get to the real causes of accidents

Laura Roberts, London, UK

Some of it sounds good but half of it won't come in. It's a consultation paper. The one thing that she could have done is removed the publication of driving test routes or abolish them all togther. This would improve driving instead of learners being route trained!

Libby, Exeter,

Nonesense! Those who are bad drivers at 17 will drive badly for the rest of their lives. Older responsible drivers have probably been so since very young.
Maturity has nothing to do with age. It certainly has to do with education. There shouldn' be an age limit anyway. Just a SQ, S for stupidity.

Rui, Lisbon, BadDriversHOME

I was recently involded in carsh, the other side was 18 year old in his moms people carrier with 5 friends at 1 am on saterday night, they where drunk

He failed to stop at a filter set of lights and just pulled out on me, dam right the test needs to be harder, he had passed 3 days earlyer!

MR W Jones, Liverpool, England

Raise the age to start driving at 18 and make any new drivers retake their test who break any traffic law in their first two years.

My son wrote off my car 3 days after passing his test after 25 lessons from driving too fast. He could drive, but he wasn't 'mature' enough to be on the road.

Garth, Newport, UK

I do have a few questions about this:

1. How many accidents are actually caused by newly qualified drivers?

2. Will this stop the natural risk-takers - young men - from taking the same risks once they have passed the test?

3. Is this designed to reduce the number of road users overall?

Chris, London,

i think this is a bad idea as i am just taking my driving lessons at the moment and with this it would be another pressure!!!

sammy , Liverpool , e

In addition re test every driver (at least) every ten years. There are a lot of drivers out there who demonstrably do not know best driving practice.

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

There are too many road users now. New drivers should only be allowed in as natural wastage removes the existing ones.

Also, if you fail part of the test you should have to re-sit the entire test.

Mikko Takala, Drumnadrochit, Scotland