Driving lessons should be on the curriculum for transition year students, with insurance companies footing the bill, according to Fianna Fáil TD Mr Ivor Callely.
Mr Callely said up to 400,000 first-time licence holders would take to the roads in the next five years, all of whom would benefit from early exposure to the theory and practice of safe driving.
Transition year presented an ideal opportunity to begin driver education, he said, in a proper controlled setting. "Other countries have test centres where young people aged under 17 years are encouraged to go through what is seen as a practical driving course before obtaining their first provisional licence.
"It gives them a huge advantage before they go on the road in that they are able to manage a car and will have gone through test condition weather experiences and oil spills and skid problems."
Mr Callely said insurance companies should pay for the scheme because they would gain from the resulting higher safety record and lower accident rate.