At least 58 lives could be saved annually by graduated driver licensing (GDL), estimates The AA as it steps up its calls for the system to be introduced.
Introducing such a system it adds could also see at least 260 serious injuries avoided on UK roads.
New drivers under the age of 21 would not be allowed to carry peer-age passengers, for 6 months after passing their test, with exemptions for parents/carers.
New drivers should face six points for not wearing a seatbelt effectively making new drivers lose their licence for this offence under the New Drivers Act while to aid police enforcement, new drivers under 21 should display a ‘G’ plate (denoting Graduate driver) for the first six months after passing their test.
Jakob Pfaudler, CEO of The AA, said: “Graduated Driver Licensing has been proven in other countries to significantly reduce road deaths and serious injuries.
“Figures show 290 people were killed in young driver crashes last year with more than 4,669 seriously injured*. Not only is this a tragic waste of life, but it contributes to the burden of high insurance premiums for young drivers. These premiums should fall when there is evidence of a reduction of young drivers and passengers killed and seriously injured.
“We are calling on the Transport Secretary to make simple, pragmatic changes to the licensing process so young people are better protected in their first few months of independent driving.”
New AA/Yonder driver research shows most popular element of the AA’s proposed GDL is passenger restrictions with a third saying they would implement it over other possible GDL tactics.
The second most popular aspect of GDL to implement, if only one could be chosen, was ‘G plates’ (24%), followed by a logbook (18%) and heavier penalties for not wearing a seatbelt (8%).
Young drivers were considerably more likely to choose heavier seatbelt penalties as the one GDL element they would introduce (20%). In 2023, more than one third (36%) of 17-29-year old drivers who died in a car crash were not wearing their seatbelt.
