The minimum driving age in Britain will effectively be raised to 18 in the New Year, the Daily Mail reports.
This reform will be contained in a new government consultation report - which will recommend the need for young drivers, who can obtain provisional licences at 17, to take a year's worth of lessons before being tested.
As a result of the changes, car insurance costs could be cut - as young drivers traditionally pay higher premiums due to their relatively high accident rates.
An un-named government source, speaking to the newspaper, commented: "The Government can effectively raise the driving age to 18 without having to specifically legislate.
"It will take most people at least a year to be signed off by a qualified instructor on all the skills they need to master before taking the tougher L-test."
Nick Starling at the Association of British Insurers added: "We must get away from the pass now, learn later culture too many youngsters have.
"Helping them gain experience of driving in different road conditions, such as at night and on wet roads, as part of the learning process will make them safer drivers, and reduce the tragic waste of young lives on our roads."
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