Statistics show that more than half of drivers killed on the road are aged between 17 and 25. TREVOR PORTER reports on what is being done to reduce the number of fatal accidents.Seventeen is the most dangerous age for drivers, and beginner drivers are the most dangerous on the road.

A 17-year-old is 12 times as likely as an older driver to die in a crash as a single occupant. Put two teenagers in a vehicle, and the odds of death and injury nearly double.

Statistics show that more than half of all drivers killed in accidents are, on average, young drivers aged between 17 and 25.

In response, the Government has set a target for a 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents.

To meet this target, driving courses have been set up in schools to get the message over to the most vulnerable members of the driving population before they venture out onto the roads.

As part of this programme, the British School of Motoring is touring schools with a simulator to show young drivers some of the dangers.

The BSM has launched its course for pre-drivers designed to improve road safety by exploring attitudes and the resultant driver behaviour with young drivers long before they venture out on the road.

A course named Ignition has been running for more than six years across the country and is now a regular event in more than 1,500 secondary schools involving an average of 100,000 students each year.

Last week the BSM took the simulator to John of Gaunt School, Trowbridge, putting young drivers to the test.

Mike Barber, who demonstrated the machine to year 11 and 12, explained the advantage of a simulator over sitting in a real car.

He said: "By sitting in this simulator, a young driver not only can co-ordinate the controls and practise each skill separately, but he or she is made more aware of the dangers

"The screen can display a road lay-out and we can judge the young driver's attitude to driving and have more influence over driving education.

"As we are static and no danger whatsoever to road users, we can teach the driver to see the problems, teach them what to do and let them practise each skill in turn.

"These pupils are on the doorstep of their driving careers. It is important the correct message is put to them."

Mr Barber, who is contracted to the education department of the BSM, said: "Our experience tells us that Ignition really does change attitudes toward driving and increases young people's awareness."

Year 12 pupil Claire White was impressed by the life-like driving situations created by the French-made simulator .

She said: "I now realise the importance of the stopping distances after a lesson on the simulator"