Drop in young motorist deaths

THE number of young drivers killed on the roads has almost halved this year compared to the same period last year, prompting calls for an overhaul of costly insurance premiums.

New garda figures reveal 34 drivers aged between 16 and 35 lost their lives in the first six months this year compared with 58 last year.

Road safety chiefs yesterday put the drop in young motorist deaths down to changing attitudes as well as random breath testing, introduced a year ago this week. It was a little early though to be certain, suggested Road Safety Authority chief Noel Brett.