Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2014
25 Mar 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Young and Novice Drivers and Graduated Driver Licensing
Whatever we come up with, before we make a final judgment on it we must take into consideration the fact that, in rural settings, driving a car can mean having a job. However, if we do some of the things that have been suggested, we will be doing one thing: helping young people to stay safe.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-09447, in the name of Keith Brown, on young and novice drivers and graduated driver licensing. I will all...
The Minister for Transport and Veterans (Keith Brown)
SNP
When the Government published Scotland’s road safety framework, one of the priorities that we set out concerned young drivers who are aged 17 to 25. Young pe...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I know that the minister is familiar with the research from Dr Sarah Jones of Cardiff University, which is mentioned in the Labour amendment, but the evidenc...
Keith Brown
SNP
I am indeed familiar with it, and I am happy to support the Labour Party amendment, but the latest figure that we have from Sarah Jones is 19. Obviously, tha...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
Can the minister tell members exactly what he defines as GDL?
Keith Brown
SNP
I was just going to talk about the different GDL systems around the world, which have different characteristics. If the UK Government does not want to take t...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate, which is primarily about road safety and reducing the number of injuries and fatalities on roads across Sco...
Keith Brown
SNP
Mark Griffin says that more can be done. Of course, more can always be done. However, I hope that he recognises that the number of young drivers who are kill...
Mark Griffin
Lab
We acknowledge the drop. I simply flag up the recommendations that were made in the 2011 report, and I ask for a progress update. A further recommendation i...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
One of the great things about the Parliament is that we have a diversity of members. Although we might look the same and have similar experiences in some are...
David Stewart
Lab
Does the member acknowledge the statistic that one in five newly qualified drivers crashes within six months, and that they tend to be men aged under 25 on r...
Alex Johnstone
Con
Indeed I do. There are a number of reasons for that, not least the fact that many young men are overconfident. They are perfectly able to drive sensibly when...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
I declare an interest: I am a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists. I first took my IAM test in 1972, and I took it again more recently, in 2008. ...
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am grateful to have been given the chance to contribute to the debate and I rise to support the Government motion and Mark Griffin’s amendment. I am fairl...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
I ask the member to draw to a close, please.
Graeme Pearson
Lab
I leave other members to add to the debate, but the issue is important, and we should keep it in mind. 14:55
Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
As the convener of the cross-party group on accident prevention and safety awareness, I am particularly pleased to speak in this important debate. The cros...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
Like Alex Johnstone and Stewart Stevenson, I learnt to drive at a young age off the public road. In my case, it was on a farm. I agree with a lot of the anal...
Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
I declare an interest, in that the business that I own, which is now run by my son, is a supplier to the accident damage industry. We supply throughout Scotl...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I am afraid that you must conclude.
Gil Paterson
SNP
Whatever we come up with, before we make a final judgment on it we must take into consideration the fact that, in rural settings, driving a car can mean havi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I am afraid that I have to tell the next two speakers that they have only up to five minutes. 15:11
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I have been an advocate for the introduction of a form of graduated driving licence for young and new drivers since early 2010 because, after a double fatal ...
Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP)
SNP
The Parliament has, undoubtedly, debated matters of greater significance than this one, and I suspect that we will be lucky if this part of today’s business ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We turn to the closing speeches. I call Alex Johnstone, who has up to five minutes. 15:20
Alex Johnstone
Con
It has been an extremely interesting and high-quality debate in which we have heard a range of ideas, including some quite original ones. However, the key pr...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Would Alex Johnstone consider the suggestion that people should be unable to take their test until their instructor says that they are sufficiently trained t...
Alex Johnstone
Con
I believe that that would be an appropriate way to go forward. Again, however, I emphasise that the testing process appears to be incapable of identifying th...
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
In closing the debate for Labour, I am pleased to support the Labour amendment and the Government motion, but we will not support the Conservative amendment....
Keith Brown
SNP
I agree with James Kelly that, in general, the debate has been constructive and that speeches have been high quality. I will try to refer to those speeches. ...