Ministers on Friday gave their backing to an experiment which will allow youngsters to start learning to drive from the age of 16.5 years and take a test as soon as they reach 17.

If they pass the test, young drivers will be able to drive, as long as they are with an experienced older driver. Young drivers will have to name five people as potential coaches under the 2toDrive scheme. Their names will be registered and one of them must be in the car.
Transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen hopes the experiment will improve road safety.
A similar scheme operates in Germany and the number of accidents involving youngsters has gone down 30%, the minister said.