THE Furness MP has backed calls from campaigners including a bereaved mum from Cumbria to ban drivers under 21 from carrying passengers of a similar until six months after their test.

Michelle Scrogham said she was supporting the campaign to introduce graduated driving licences, which would place certain restrictions on newly-passed drivers. 

Among those pushing for the proposal is Sharron Huddleston, whose daughter Caitlin was killed while travelling in a car on the A595 in Bootle after the vehicle collided with an oncoming van.

The AA has now added its backing for graduated driving licensing, estimating that introducing it would save at least 58 lives and prevent 934 people being seriously injured in road crashes each year.

(Image: Sharron Huddleston)

The AA would like to see motorists with a 'G' graduated driver plate handed six penalty points for not wearing a seatbelt, which would mean they lose their licence.

Mrs Scrogham said: "Good to see the AA raising the subject of graduated driving licences.

"I recently met with Sharron Huddleston, mum of Caitlin, who tragically lost her life in an accident with a newly qualified driver.

"Caitlin is one of many who have lost their lives and sadly could have been prevented if our laws had changed when other bereaved parents were campaigning for it back when Caitlin was just four years old.

"Graduated licences are used successfully in other countries, and as we know, we do most of our learning after we pass our driving test."

Mrs Huddleston has been campaigning for a phased licensing system for novice drivers, which she says could reduce the number of road deaths among young people.  

With the support of others, she has formed an action group – Forget-me-not Families Uniting – to bring together other bereaved families who have experienced the loss of a young family member in a road crash and are supporting the introduction of graduated driving licences in the UK.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Whilst we are not considering graduated driving licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads, and we are considering other measures to tackle this problem and protect young drivers.

"That’s why we are committed to delivering a new road safety strategy – the first in over a decade – and will set out next steps on this in due course.”