YOUNG Farmers’ clubs are holding talks with the government as part of a campaign to reduce the amount of deaths on Suffolk and Essex’s rural roads.

According to official figures, nearly two-thirds of all fatal crashes in England, Scotland and Wales happen on rural roads.

Most of these accidents also involve young male drivers.

Now, the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC), which represents thousands of people under 26 in England and Wales, is holding talks with the government’s roads’ minister.

NFYFC vice-chair Millie Wastie said the organisation wants to see funding for a specific person in each county running rural driver training and hazard awareness courses and is also calling for targets to cut rural road deaths.

She added: “Everyone knows someone that’s either a friend or a family member that has lost their life.”

Road safety minister Mike Penning is behind the campaign.

He says: “We welcome the support of any group looking to improve road safety, especially those involving young people.

“Any road death or injury is a tragedy and I will continue to take urgent action to crack down on the most dangerous drivers while improving training to make our roads safer for everyone.”