A ROW has broken out between Holyrood and Westminster after a plea to launch a Scottish trial of a scheme designed to cut road deaths was snubbed by London.
The Scottish Government says there is "clear and unambiguous evidence" that bringing in graduated driver licensing (GDL) - which would see temporary restrictions placed on newly qualified drivers while they gain experience in low-risk conditions - would save lives.
But the UK Government, which decides policy in the area, has put its plans to change laws to decrease the number of young people killed in car accidents on hold.
The move, which was met with dismay by the Edinburgh administration, led to Scotland's transport minister Keith Brown urging his UK counterpart Patrick McLoughlin to consider setting up a GDL pilot scheme north of the Border.
In a letter to Mr McLoughlin earlier this month, Mr Brown said: "If the UK Government is still unconvinced, despite the evidence, that a GDL scheme in Great Britain would save lives, then I would urge you to consider whether a pilot in Scotland would help to strengthen this evidence. Both the Scottish Government and the Parliament feel that this issue is too serious to be sidelined, so I urge you to give this your serious consideration."
However, The Herald understands that the suggestion has already been rejected, with a source saying the scheme would not be introduced "any time soon". The response provoked anger from road safety campaigners who have said delays in changing the law is costing lives.
The Scottish Government has said that GDL schemes, which can see restrictions such as limits on passenger numbers, a ban on driving at night, caps on engine size and stricter drink-driving limits imposed on newly qualified drivers, operate successfully in other European countries, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
The Northern Ireland Executive, which has control of policy in the area, has already introduced proposals, which include a 12- month minimum learning period and restrictions on carrying more than one 14 to 20-year-old as a passenger for six months after passing, for drivers under 25.
It is estimated that bringing in a scheme in Scotland would save more than 20 lives and £80 million a year.
June Ross, who set up support group Don't You Forget About Me after her son Ian Buchanan was killed in a car crash aged 23 in 2010, backed the Scottish Government's stance and said resistance from London was costing lives. She said: "This is something that would be easy to pilot in Scotland and we're willing to take it, so it seems not particularly sensible for Westminster to be holding it back."
Philip Goose, senior community engagement officer at road safety charity Brake, backed calls for the introduction of restrictions and said he was "disappointed" that UK Government proposals, originally due last year, had not materialised.
"We strongly support the Scottish Government's support for graduated driver licensing," he added."Such schemes are used in many countries and it is predicted that it would prevent 200 deaths and 14,000 injuries a year across the UK."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We're clear that targeted action is needed to help young and novice drivers stay safe behind the wheel, as they are over-represented in road accidents.
"That's why we were disappointed that the UK Government's proposed Green Bill on the important issue of GDL failed to materialise."
The Department of Transport declined to comment.
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