Talks to help cut road death toll

A public meeting has been held in the Forest of Dean to discuss ways of cutting down deaths on local roads.

Fourteen people have been killed in accidents so far this year, nine of them under the age of 25.

The meeting on Saturday, chaired by MP Mark Harper, was called by local driving instructors who are pressing for lower speed limits on Forest roads.

Mr Harper has promised to push for new legislation if there is clear support from the public.

Subsidised training

One proposal is to subsidise extra lessons for new drivers to practise their skills in more challenging situations like rural roads or motorways.

Mr Harper said: "I've been asking the government to think about using some of the revenue from speed cameras to go towards paying for or subsidising some of that training.

"It hasn't had a very receptive response but I'm going to keep pressing the minister.

"And when the road safety bill comes before the House of Commons later this year, I hope to be on that committee and shall put forward some of these ideas and change the government's mind."