Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife has called on the Scottish Government to provide more support for Scotland’s young drivers. The Perthshire MSP has highlighted the fact that for many young people living in rural communities owning a car or having access to a car is not only part of their independence or social life, it is also vital to their employment prospects. Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fifesaid: “For many people in rural Perthshire and Kinross-shire and Fife , owning a car is a necessity, not a luxury. And for one group of people, owning a car or having access to a car is not only part of their independence or social life, it is also vital to their employment prospects. “Young people across our area need support and in Parliament I have consistently championed specific need and ideas which can help our young people. Driver and road safety must always be paramount. I’m pleased that in recent years progress has been made to address the tragic loss of young lives on our roads. “Statistically, new drivers are more likely to have an accident in the first two years of passing their test than at any other time in their driving career. Schemes such as Pass Plus can help to equip young drivers with advanced motoring skills and it is worth reflecting that it is thanks to many of these schemes that the number of young drivers killed or injured each year on Scotland’s roads is falling at a greater rate than for all other driver groups. We can never afford to be complacent in the area of road safety but it is welcome news that young drivers are safer today on Scotland’s roads than they have been for many years. “Over the past few years I have met with a number of young people who have told me that in many cases being able to drive is required for many of the current jobs available. Why is it then, that with young drivers being amongst the safest in the world we still see insurance premiums for drivers between 17-25 at a record level ? For many young people seeking work the cost of putting a car on road is simply too high. That is why I welcome the UK Conservative Government steps to try to address these high costs. At a recent summit, UK Ministers brought together insurance firms to try to work to find a way to reduce the high insurance premiums faced by many young drivers. Car insurance costs are simply too high for young drivers and a number of innovative schemes have already helped to reduce premiums. “Supporting young people into work is something both of Scotland’s Governments are working to achieve and I welcome the positive steps being taken, not only to make young drivers safer but also to also provide them with a competitive advantage in seeking a job.