In Great Britain, young drivers between the ages of 17–24 are involved in 24% of all collisions resulting in death or serious injury, even though this group account for just 7% of the total driving population.
In 2023, 4,959 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes involving at least one young driver – this includes other road users of all ages, such as people travelling in separate cars or pedestrians.
Data from transport safety studies, car insurance companies and driving charities over many years has shown that drivers under the age of 24 are more likely to have crashes when they are carrying similar-aged passengers in their car, when driving at night and when driving conditions are difficult.
In response to this evidence, several countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many US States, have introduced Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL), which restricts the number of peer-aged passengers a young driver can take in the car, as well as preventing night-time driving, for an interim period after passing their test.
In these countries, there has been a reduction in deaths and serious injuries in crashes involving young drivers by between 20 and 40%, following the introduction of Graduated Driving Licensing.
The evidence is overwhelming – Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) saves lives. But despite the overwhelming evidence, and pleas from bereaved families, leading experts for many years, GDL has yet to be introduced in the UK.
What is Graduated Driving Licensing?
Graduated Driving Licensing is a multi-stage system designed to gradually introduce young, novice drivers to full driving privileges, with measures focused on reducing risk.
In some countries, new drivers are required to limit the number of passengers in the same age group or avoid driving between midnight and 4 a.m. for the first six months after passing their test. These measures help them gain experience in safer conditions before progressing to full driving privileges.
The RoadPeace Perspective
RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, has supported so many parents during its 30-year history who have lost teenage sons and daughters in road crashes.
They have been calling for changes to the law to better protect young drivers and passengers for decades, but nobody has listened. Many families have felt unheard and ignored.
Enough is enough. How many more young lives need to be lost before action is taken?
The Government must listen to these families, listen to the experts and learn from the overwhelming evidence from other countries where Graduated Driving Licensing has been in place for some time.
We have a solution to this big problem. Why are we not doing everything in our power to protect young people?
Forget-me-not Families Uniting
Forget-me-not Families Uniting was launched in April with the backing of RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims; Brake, the road safety charity and The Road Victims’ Trust.
The group is made up of many bereaved parents who are demanding immediate action to tackle the unacceptable and disproportionately high number of young driver and passenger deaths on UK roads.
Forget-me-not Families Uniting is calling for:
- The introduction of Graduated Driving Licensing to reduce road death and serious injury
- An expert panel to advise the Government on how Graduated Driving Licensing in the UK should look
New group members are welcome. To join Forget-me-not Families Uniting, please apply via the closed Facebook group.
Or please email Sharron Huddleston at sharronhudd70@gmail.com