David Ruffley MP has been conducting a House of Commons investigation into safety on Suffolk's roads and the county's major trunk road the A14.

New House of Commons figures obtained by David Ruffley during his questioning of Stephen Ladyman, Minister of State for Transport, reveal that in 2005 32 percent of all accidents on Suffolk's roads involved drivers under the age of 21.

Drivers under the age of 21 also accounted for 25 percent of all fatalities on Suffolk's roads.

During 2005 nearly a fifth of all accidents on the A14 in Suffolk involved drivers under the age of 21.

David has brought the matter to the urgent attention of Alastair McWhirter, Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary, and asked what steps his force can take to tackle this problem.

David said:

'These are some shocking figures. A third of all accidents on Suffolk's roads involve drivers aged under 21.

'Drivers under 21 also account for a quarter of all fatalities on Suffolk's roads and a fifth of all accidents on the A14.

'It is clear from these figures that inexperience is a key contributory factor in the number of accidents and deaths we see on our county's roads. This is something we must move urgently to address.

'I have written to the Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary, Alastair McWhirter, bringing these figures to his attention and asking him what steps his force can take to improve this alarming record.'