DRIVING instructors in Bolton have warned against plans to lower the age limit for people learning how to drive.

The Government is considering a proposal to allow 16-year-old drivers to practise on public roads as one of a series of measures to reduce the number of accidents younger drivers are involved in.

The training method, already used in Sweden, would involve 16-year-old drivers having to complete a minimum of 120 hours of supervised practise on the roads before they could take a test.

Other ideas being investigated include adding safe driving principles to the school curriculum and making the driving test harder.

Warren Hulme, of Warren's Driving School, in Hulton Lane, Deane, said: "I don't think that allowing 16-year-olds to learn to drive is a good idea.

"It should be raised rather than lowered because 16-year-olds are not mature enough."

Steve Harris, of Westhoughton School of Motoring, said: "The problem is you cannot control an attitude.

"Some youngsters are perfectly good drivers when they have lessons, but as soon as they pass their test they go out in the car with friends and pick up bad habits."

But Hugh German, from Bolton Advanced Motorists, believes it is time for a change to the current system.

He said: "At the moment we teach people to pass a test, rather than giving them the driving experience needed."

The Driving Standards Agency, (DSA) the body responsible for the driving test, has been asked by the Department of Transport (DfT) to review the testing and training regime for drivers.

A DfT spokeswoman said: "The statistics for young driver accidents is something that we need to take seriously.

"We have asked the DSA to come back with the review as soon as possible, but it is still rather early days on all this and nothing has been decided yet."