Brake has proposed changes which it says could save up to 400 lives a year

A road safety charity has called for young drivers to take compulsory lessons on rural roads.

Brake has said that a graduated licensing system would help reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the road.

This would involve a minimum driving period and several restrictions for novice drivers. After passing their test, drivers would face a zero drink-drive limit for a period.

In 2015, 120 young drivers died on UK roads, with 80% of crashes taking place in rural locations.

Jason Wakeford, director of campaigns for Brake, said: "High speeds, sharp bends, narrow lanes, risky overtaking and the presence of vulnerable road users like cyclists, make rural roads the most dangerous by far. The combination of rural roads and novice drivers is lethal - a staggering 80 per cent of all young car driver fatalities occur in rural locations.

"Brake is calling for a total overhaul of the learning to drive system to help cut fatalities and injuries. A graduated licensing system, including a minimum learning period, mandatory training on rural roads and restrictions for newly-qualified drivers - such as a zero drink-drive limit - will allow new drivers to build up more skills and experience over a longer period of time.”

The charity has said the changes could save up to 400 lives a year, and has called for new technology to limit speeding cars.

Earlier this month, it was announced that learners will be allowed to have lessons on the motorway to help build their experience.