SHOCKING new figures have revealed that one in four teens in the area get behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs.

And almost half of teenage passengers admit to having got in a car when they know the driver has been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The figures, released by road safety charity Brake, are being used to support parliament's Transport Committee in its call for a review of the driver training system.

In a move that echoes the aims of the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign, the committee is calling for a zero alcohol limit for newly-qualified drivers.

Figures for the north west are considerably higher than the national results, especially in relation to drug driving. Around 22 per cent of 17-18-year-olds questioned in the north west admitted drink driving, compared to the national figure of 19 per cent. Those driving after taking drugs was 12 per cent, compared to the national figure of just seven per cent. Almost half - 45 per cent - said they had got into a car with a drunk or drugged driver; the national figure was only 32 per cent.

Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake, said: "Every day young drivers kill and seriously injure themselves and others through a deadly combination of inexperience and taking risks like drink and drug driving. Even small amounts of alcohol or drugs can have catastrophic consequences behind the wheel.

"But decisive government action to tackle young driver crashes is long overdue."

She added: "We are demanding that the government moves forward with an overhaul of driver training and testing, and introduces graduated driver licensing, which has been highly effective in cutting casualties in other countries."

Brake is also calling for greater investment in traffic policing in a bid to crack down on drink and drug drivers.

Ch Insp John Donnelly, of Lancashire Police, said: "We recognise that driving whilst under the influence of drugs is an issue for all police forces across the country, Lancashire included.

"All illegal drugs, from cannabis to cocaine, can impair co-ordination, visual perception, tracking and vigilance.

"Driving under the influence of drugs is dangerous, illegal and increasingly detectable. We continue to take drug driving as seriously as we take drink driving and will bring prosecutions forward to the full extent of the law.