The UK government is considering changes to driving license rules for young people as part of a renewed road safety campaign. If implemented, these measures could impact millions of new drivers nationwide. The campaign, called Protect Young Drivers, was launched in Parliament during Road Safety Week. It has brought together MPs, police commissioners, emergency services, educators and families affected by road accidents, highlighting cross-sector support for tackling youth-related traffic fatalities.
Statistics Drive Urgent Call for Change
Recent data reveals that drivers aged 17 to 24 account for 24% of fatal or serious injury collisions in Britain, despite making up only around 7% of all licence holders, according to Birmingham Live. In 2024 alone, nearly 5,000 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes involving young drivers, a figure that includes not only vehicle occupants but also pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users.
The Protect Young Drivers campaign is pushing for the introduction of Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL), a phased system designed to introduce driving privileges gradually. Countries such as Canada, New Zealand, and Australia have adopted this approach with notable success. In Canada, fatality rates among 16 to 19-year-old drivers dropped by 83% following full implementation of GDL across provinces. Similarly, New South Wales in Australia reported a 55% reduction in fatal crashes among probationary drivers after tightening restrictions. New Zealand saw a 23% drop in injury collisions among 15 to 19-year-olds.
The proposed GDL framework in the UK could include three primary restrictions: a ban on night driving for new drivers, limits on the number of passengers of a similar age, and longer minimum learning periods before taking the practical test.
Campaign Garners Cross-Party and Public Backing
The campaign has received attention at the highest levels of government. Road Safety Minister Lilian Greenwood attended the campaign launch, alongside Labour MP Andy MacNae and Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen, who currently leads on national roads policing. Allen emphasised the human impact behind the statistics, stating, “Every statistic represents a real person – a life cut short, a family left grieving, and a community changed forever.”
Support has also come from West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, who has written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander urging swift action. Foster’s proposals align with international GDL models and include lower alcohol limits, peer passenger restrictions, and night-time curfews, while still allowing for exemptions in cases of work, education or caring responsibilities.
According to the campaign’s co-chair Rebecca Morris, who also helped develop the Protect Young Drivers website in collaboration with the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), the initiative is more than just a digital resource. It serves as a central hub of data, evidence, and personal experiences meant to guide policy. She described the campaign as “a significant new phase in the movement to reduce young driver and passenger deaths in the UK.”
Critics of GDL systems often raise concerns about restricting young people’s independence. Yet campaigners argue the model can be customised for UK needs, ensuring new drivers gain experience gradually while limiting exposure to high-risk situations. The Labour-led initiative marks a shift in how youth road safety is being prioritised at the national level.
