THE Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign is on the brink of an important breakthrough with government sources indicating that the driving age is likely to effectively be raised to 18.

Whitehall sources have confirmed that the move will be recommended in an impending government consultation document.

It is understood that learners will still be granted their provisional licence at 17 but, according to national newspaper reports, will have to spend a specified number of learning hours behind the wheel.

In practice the high number of hours means they would be unable to get their full licence before the age of 18.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "It will make a real difference if the age you can hold a full driving licence rises to 18.

"There is now pressure on the government because there is a wealth of opinion that we need to act now. Raising the driving age is an important part of that.

"I welcome this consultation and a big reason that it is being held is because of pressure from the Lancashire Telegraph. The Wasted Lives campaign has done a lot to prompt the government into action.

"I am hoping to secure a debate in the Commons in February, or March, and I will be seeking a meeting with Roads Minister Jim Fitzpatrick and Lancashire Telegraph editor Kevin Young to discuss the issue further."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "Raising the age to 18 is something that the government should not only consider, but enact. It would singularly do more for road safety that virtually any other measure."

Terry Hannon, whose 22-year-old son Matthew died when his Renault Clio smashed in to a wall in Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, said he was pleased that the driving age could effectively be set to be raised.

He said: "The younger you are, the more naive you are. The extra life experience people have between 17 and 18 years old can make all of the difference. If the government are seriously consid-ering this change, then that is great news. Any step that makes young drivers more experienced and more aware of the challenges of driving is very welcome."

The document signals the start of a three-month consultation, which will be followed by a sweeping Department of Transport action plan.

According to media reports, the consultation document will see the new learner scheme concentrate on issues such as over-confidence amongst young drivers, hazard perception and avoiding reckless behaviour.

The government has already published its interim response to the Commons transport select committee's proposals - many of which are in line with the Telegraph's Wasted Lives campaign aims.

In it, the government agreed there should be a structured syllabus for young drivers, and it will consider a graduated licence scheme.

However, the interim response document was less encouraging on other key aims of the Wasted Lives campaign.

It stated that it had no evidence at present of drivers under 25 representing a greater threat to passengers than other age groups.

However, it aims to seek further information on the subject in the forthcoming consultation.

One of the key Telegraph aims is to create a two-part driving test with various modules, including night driving and driving on dual carriageways.

Under this learning process novices would not be able to travel above 50mph, or to drive a car above 1600cc until the Part Two test is passed. The government's interim response did not directly address these issues.

It also pointed out some of the practical difficulties to a zero alcohol limit for young drivers, but says it will continue to explore the issue.

One of the government's concerns is that as drivers are not required to carry their licences by law, restrictions such as a zero alcohol limit, or a no passengers rule, would be difficult to enforce because an officer would not know the person's driving status.

The Telegraph has also called for a range of stiffer penalties for young drivers who break the law, but the government's interim response appears to fight shy of this issue.

The Wasted Lives campaign was launched eight months ago in a bid to cut the carnage created by young drivers on East Lancashire's roads.

Last year 22 people under the age of 25 were killed in the county.

Lancashire Telegraph editor Kevin Young said: "It looks like there is a very good chance of the driving age being raised - in practice at least - to 18 and we very much welcome this.

"However, this can only be a part of the solution. Other key aims of our campaign are just as important.

"Given the appalling statistics surrounding the carrying of passengers, this must be addressed as must the limiting of engine size and speeds for young drivers with minimal road experience."

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said all interested parties would be able to have their say when a consultation document was published as part of its three-year road safety strategy review.

The document is expected to be published in January.

Members of the public, as well as road safety groups, motoring organisations, and campaigners will be able to have their say throughout the 12-week consult-ation.

When all responses are received, they will be analysed by the Government before any decisions are made about possible changes to the law.

The review of current road safety laws is set to last for a further two years.