Why safety campaigners are pushing for a graduated driving licence scheme

How can we keep young drivers safe?

Despite the Government's rejection of graduated driving licence (GDL) plans in January 2025, road safety campaigners continue to push for restrictions on newly qualified drivers - and the statistics show why they won't give up.

We all know it's a big moment when the L plates finally come off.

It means an end to the stressful lessons, the nervy instructor and, of course, begging for lifts at a time in our lives when many of us are yearning for independence.

Whatever your age when you pass your test, a full licence means experiencing a new level of freedom you've never had before. You've finally proven you're competent enough to be on the road without supervision.

But are young drivers ready for that freedom?

The risk to new drivers

Newly qualified drivers can get a bit of a bad rep - but the statistics back up the concerns.

According to Department for Transport figures, 4,959 people were killed or seriously injured in 2023 in crashes involving drivers under 25. While that's 60% lower than in 2004, young drivers remain significantly overrepresented in collision statistics.

Data from Northern Ireland shows young drivers aged 17-23 make up only 8% of licence holders but were responsible for 21% of all fatal or serious collisions in 2023.

One in five young drivers crash within a year of passing their test.

What are the common risky behaviours among young drivers?

Youth and inexperience make young people more likely to overestimate their driving ability, and underestimate the risks of dangerous driving.

They're more prone to excessive speeding, driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs, using their mobile phones while behind the wheel, and refusing to wear seat belts. More than one third (36%) of 17-29-year-old drivers who died in a car crash in 2023 weren't wearing their seatbelt.

Peer pressure makes things worse.

An 18-year-old who has just passed their test is more likely to speed, or not wear their seat belt, when they have friends in the car.

Northern Ireland data shows 77% of passengers aged 14-20 killed or seriously injured while travelling with a young driver were with a driver aged 17-23. Nearly half (49%) of these incidents happened at weekends, and 39% occurred between 11pm and 6am.

The current rules

If you get six points (or more) on your licence within two years of passing your test, you can safely kiss it goodbye.

You then have to reapply and pay for a new provisional licence, before retaking and passing your theory and practical exams again.

Harsh? Maybe.

But some say this punishment doesn't actually do enough to prevent this high-risk age group from getting into a collision.

If a driving offence requires a minimum of three points, this means you could offend more than once before any action is taken.

But with young people being statistically more prone to risky driving, they could cause a fatal traffic incident before they're caught behaving badly.

What was proposed - and why it was scrapped

The GDL scheme would have imposed additional restrictions on newly qualified drivers aged 17-24, similar to systems in the USA, New Zealand, and Sweden.

The AA had campaigned for specific measures including:

• Drivers under 21 wouldn’t be able to have peer-age passengers for six months after passing
• New drivers would face six points for not wearing a seatbelt
• They’d be required to display 'G' plates for the first six months

However, in January 2025, the Government rejected these plans.

Concerns over restricting young drivers' mobility and employability were cited as key reasons. A TTC survey found 60% of motorists actually welcomed the decision to scrap GDL.

Is a graduated driving licence the only option?

A GDL scheme simply changes the way in which a full licence is achieved.

But it's not the only option.

Some driving schools are convinced that young people should be having lessons earlier than 17.

While you can't take a car onto public roads until you are 17, some driving schools do offer private lessons to younger age groups on private land. These driving schools claim those students who have pre-17 lessons are statistically less likely to crash in the first 6 months after passing their test, than the national average.

In theory, if you already know how to drive when heading out with an instructor, then formal lessons can focus more on road safety and interacting with traffic.

Perhaps allowing people to familiarise themselves with driving at an earlier age could be a good alternative to improve road safety.

Either way, both these options could address concerns that young people don't necessarily get enough experience on the road before passing their tests.

We think it's food for thought at the very least.

The alternative approach: What happens now?

Instead of GDL, the focus has shifted to other road safety measures.

According to the TTC survey:

• 68% support introducing a 'zero alcohol or drug' limit for all drivers
• 53% back making motorway driving mandatory in the practical test
• 47% support including real-life crash documentaries in theory tests

Employer-led driver training is particularly effective. Education is key to helping young drivers make safer decisions and reduce risk on the road.

Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed the Government are still looking at ways to improve road safety without unfairly penalising young drivers.

The DfT has received the final report from Driver 2020, a major research project exploring interventions and training techniques to boost confidence and reduce risk during the critical first year after passing.

Is scrapping GDL the right decision?

It's a divisive issue. Road safety campaigners are disappointed, pointing to evidence from other countries where GDL has reduced young driver collisions by 20-40%.

But critics of GDL argue it would unfairly restrict independence and job opportunities, particularly in rural areas with poor public transport.

With 44% of 17-24-year-olds holding a full driving licence – and many of those needing vehicles for work - the impact would’ve been significant.

The outcome

While a formal GDL is off the table, the conversation about young driver safety continues. The industry now awaits the Driver 2020 findings to shape future policies.

The challenge remains: how do we protect young drivers without limiting their opportunities? Whether through better education, stricter testing, employer initiatives, or earlier training on private land, finding the right balance is crucial.