STUDENTS are putting their driving skills to the test as part of a safety initiative aiming to cut the number of deaths on the roads.

Sixth-formers at Lady Lumley's School, in Pickering, who are leading the scheme, are being sent on advanced driving courses.

Ryedale couple David and Janet Warin, whose son, Daniel, died in a road accident just after passing his test seven years ago, have also been strongly involved.

Mr Warin, who is a member of Pickering Traffic Group, said: "We were set up to try to develop the issues of raising driver awareness and skills.

"We seem to have suffered a fairly significant number of fatalities through road traffic accidents involving youngsters in recent years."

He said the group now had funds to send nine sixth-form students on the advanced driving courses.

"It costs somewhere in the region of £70 to put each person through the course," he said.

"In reality, it would be great if we could pay for everyone to do an advanced course after their ordinary test, but clearly that is always going to be very difficult in financial terms."