Provisional licence holders should not be allowed to drive on their own

WHAT a crazy situation we have that allows drivers who have not properly demonstrated their driving competence to be on the roads without a fully licensed driver in the car with them.

An issue that never seems to get aired is the complicity of insurance companies in this. How can provisional licence holders obtain insurance cover which permits her/him to drive on their own? I cannot think of any other country where insurers would accept this risk, let alone seek to make a profit from it.

Many steps need to be taken to reduce the road toll. One is simple and easy to implement. All insurers should be required either through a voluntary code or by government legislation to notify provisional licence holders that until they pass the motoring test, they must be accompanied by the holder of a full licence while driving.