A north MSP has said he is “confident” that his campaign for the introduction of a graduated licence scheme for new drivers will win approval.
David Stewart was speaking after being awarded a road safety award for his campaigning work.
He is urging the Scottish and Westminster government to support the licence change, which mean imposing a restrictions on new drivers such as a night-time curfew and a limit on passengers for a set time after passing the driving test.
The scheme is already widely used in Australia, New Zealand and many US states.
Mr Stewart, who is Labour’s transport spokesman, estimates that 22 lives a year could be saved if it was introduced in the UK.
He has met with transport minister Claire Perry MP in December last year and Superintendent Iain Murray, head of road policing in Scotland, in January to discuss the proposal.
He has now been named road safety parliamentarian of the month by charity Brake.
He said: “I’m delighted to accept the award on behalf of my team who have put in a lot of hard work in promoting the benefits of the graduated licence.
“It is a reserved matter for Westminster and having recently met with the transport minister I hope they will show support for it.
“I am confident in the benefits of it, and I would hope that it will be trialled in Scotland to show the benefits.”
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: “David has been a wonderful champion for the cause, and we hope that with his continued hard work, Scotland can set an example for the rest of the UK on young driver safety.
“David is a passionate and dedicated road safety campaigner, and we are pleased to recognise this by making him our road safety parliamentarian of the month.”