In our part of the world, rural Powys, driving is often the only practical way to get around, especially for young people. The proposals this week to improve young driver safety could have a severe impact on the job prospects and lifestyles of young people in rural areas like ours.

Montgomeryshire in mid-Wales is the least densely populated county in England and Wales; 59.3% of us live in isolated, rural hamlets and isolated dwellings. Getting access to health, education, housing and jobs is a challenge for anyone living in a rural community like this. Add on to that the challenge of being a young person and the barriers mount up.

Young people in Montgomeryshire tell me how important it is for them to find jobs that they can travel to. They need opportunities to meet with other young people. They long for an income that allows them to stay and invest in their communities. They want jobs and apprenticeships which are going to lead to long-term security.

These days only 9% of the population in our rural area is employed in agriculture and 33% work for the public sector. Wages remain low – £53 a week less than the average Welsh pay packet. Young people here are more likely to be in low paid work or in insecure employment than their urban counterparts. This is leading to an exodus of young people as they seek more stable and better paid work elsewhere.

Green transport to jobs, health, education and to shops is important. In Montgomeryshire, the train service runs every two hours to the major towns – the largest of which has a population of 12,000 – and bus services have been cut yet again.

Most people drive. It is the only efficient and safe way to travel, particularly for young women. This week, the Transport Research Laboratory has proposed a 12 month “learner stage”, which will require new drivers to clock up 100 hours of day time and 20 hours of night time supervised driving. They will be subject to a curfew on driving from 10pm to 5am unless accompanied by a passenger over 30.

But while this initiative is laudable in terms of trying to save lives and reduce injuries, it does not take into account the realities of living in an area like ours. Rural young people rely on a car to get to education or work. In tough times like this, many have to commute long distances to get work. Many work in service industries such as pubs restaurants or shops with late closing hours.

That’s why, along with rural Shropshire councillor Heather Kidd, I have written to transport minister Baroness Kramer and DEFRA minister Dan Rogerson. We are asking them to ensure that our rural youth are not unfairly penalised by these new measures and that solutions are found for safe, night time transport.

Jobs, education, transport, health and housing for young people in rural areas need to be considered in an integrated way. More needs to be done to plan strategically to deliver positive futures for our young people in both rural and urban areas. Young people need to know they have an option to stay in their rural communities where they can positively contribute, and be with their families.

* Jane Dodds is Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats