A SEVENTEEN-year-old boy is set to take his advanced driving test just months after passing his first one.

Tom Lever was prompted to take part in a Dorchester-based scheme to produce safer motorists after a row with his parents.

The teenager, who doesn't even have his own car, is hoping that his new driving skills will count towards his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

Tom said: "I had an argument with my parents about my driving. I use their car and they said I was driving too fast

"I had done my driving test, but I don't think that it really makes you a good driver, whereas the advanced driving test gives you a far better understanding."

Tom, who is from Wareham and attends Poole Grammar School, spotted an advert for a scheme run by the Dorset Group of Advanced Motorists.

He is the youngest person to join the group, which is run by volunteers who prepare participants to take the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) advanced driving test, which has just been approved by the Driving Standards Agency.

Tom is due to sit the test, which is carried out by a police driver, and is optimistic that he will succeed as the Dorset group has a 90 per cent pass rate.

He said: "It's really just getting used to a different way of doing things and changing bad habits you've picked up."

The group can be contacted on (01305) 267759.