THE Government today announced tough new changes to the driving test just weeks after a Bolton coroner called for better training for motorists.

At an April inquest into a horrific motorway smash which killed two children coroner Martin Coppel highlighted the need for extra training for new young drivers.

His comments came as he passed a verdict of accidental death on Katie Allen, 15, and Glen Allen, 2, who were killed after the car they were travelling in swerved off the M61 at Kearsley last August. Summing up at the inquest's end Mr Coppel claimed it would be sensible for new drivers to undergo motorway training and have lessons in how to use equipment such as tyre pressure gauges.

Today Government ministers will unveil a new longer and tougher driving test.

Candidates will have to show they can handle high-speed driving on dual carriageways.

But Mr Coppel said the extra training still did not go far enough. He wants to see compulsory motorway lessons introduced for drivers who have passed their test.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.