New drivers under 21 should be banned from having passengers of a similar age, AA says

The measures would be part of a new driving licence aimed at new, young drivers

The ban would apply to drivers under 21 for the first six months after they've passed their test.

The proposals are part of calls for harsher penalties that would also see drivers handed six penalty points on their licence for not wearing a seatbelt in the same six month period after their test.

The measures would be part of a type of licence aimed at new, young drivers, known as a graduated driving licence. The AA says the proposals could prevent almost 1,000 serious injuries and save 58 lives on British roads every year.

Countries such as Canada, the US, Australia and Sweden all have similar measures in place.

GDLs already exist in Northern Ireland, but the Department of Transport has said there are no plans for it be introduced in other parts of the UK.

If the licence was introduced, new drivers would mark their vehicles with G plates.

Government figures show 290 people were killed and 4,669 were seriously injured in crashes on Britain's roads last year involving at least one driver aged 17-24.

The AA's head of road policy, Jack Cousens, told BBC Radio 5 Live that countries where GDLs had been introduced had seen "a reduction of death and serious injuries to younger drivers and their passengers" by 20-40 per cent.

He said the motoring organisation would "keep banging this drum" in the hope that the government will "change tack and see that we need to make some changes for younger drivers."

The Department for Transport said that whilst GDLs were not being considered at the moment, it was "considering other measures to tackle this problem and protect young drivers," acknowledging that young drivers are "disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads."