Motorists to be asked to become organ donors

Anyone applying for a driving licence in Britain will be asked if they want to join an organ donation scheme under new proposals to boost the number of donors.

The system, to be piloted from July, will make would-be drivers state whether they want to sign up to the National Health Service Organ Donor Register, or defer their decision until later.

Authorities hope it will boost the numbers of people willing to donate vital organs - around 8,000 people in Britain are waiting for a transplant.

Under the current system, applicants can miss out a question on donation when applying for a driving licence. But the new rules will require that they opt to either register for donation, state that they have already signed up or state: "I do not want to answer this question now."

At present, just over a quarter of British residents are registered donors, but studies have revealed that a far larger proportion are in favour of donating body parts.

"We hope that by prompting people into making a decision we can encourage more people to register," public health minister Anne Milton said. "We also need people to think and talk about organ donation with their families so people know what family members want."