As road safety concerns grow, a new study has revealed that a significant portion of the UK public supports stricter driving licence rules for young drivers. According to GB News, nearly 60% of respondents backed the introduction of Graduated Driving Licences (GDL), which would impose key restrictions on newly qualified drivers. These rules could include limiting the number of passengers and even implementing a curfew to reduce risk during the crucial early driving years.
With support from both road safety experts and the public, many are calling for changes that would help ensure safer driving habits among young motorists. Restrictions on young drivers’ travel distances and passenger limits are also gaining momentum as part of efforts to prevent accidents.
Public Support for Stricter Measures
Support for stricter rules has gained traction, with some calling for even tougher restrictions. In one of the more extreme suggestions, one in five people believe that new drivers should be restricted from travelling more than 50 miles from home during their first six to 12 months on the road.
This proposal, which could help young drivers gain more experience in familiar areas before venturing further, was supported by 50% of survey respondents. Another proposal that gained support was the introduction of a “recently passed” sign for young drivers during their first year. This would signal to other road users that the driver is new and may require extra caution.
Calls for Better Education and Awareness
In addition to restricting driving hours and passengers, 70% of drivers agreed that tyre safety should be incorporated into driving lessons to help young drivers stay aware of potential risks. Helen Roe, UK Senior Marketing Manager for Bridgestone, emphasized the importance of educating young drivers, stating:
“Our findings reinforce the importance of road and tyre safety education, particularly amongst young drivers who might be at greater risk on roads in the initial period of passing their driving test.”
While some of these proposals may be extreme, Bridgestone and other safety advocates believe they could drastically reduce accidents and help young drivers stay safer on the roads.
Government’s Stance
The Department for Transport has responded to the growing calls for stricter rules by acknowledging that while they are not considering the introduction of Graduated Driving Licences at this time, they recognise the disproportionate number of accidents involving young drivers. A spokesperson for the department stated:
“Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way.”
However, they are exploring options to improve road safety for young drivers without unfairly penalising them.
