Thousands of drivers in England could face new 11pm to 5am rule
Potential changes to driving licence laws could see new drivers facing curfews and restrictions on passengers. These types of graduated driving licences are already in place in Canada and New Zealand with calls mounting for similar rules to be implemented in England.
Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, is championing Graduate Driving Licences, which may include prohibiting drivers from carrying same-age passengers during their first year on the road. The proposed regulations might also enforce a curfew, barring young motorists from driving between 11pm and 5am.
According to government data from 2023, young car drivers feature in a quarter of all fatal collision cases, with 1,417 young UK drivers involved in serious or fatal accidents each year.
In 2023 alone, there were 4,959 reported fatalities or severe injuries due to incidents involving youthful drivers, reports Birmingham Live.
A collective of grieving families who have faced loss due to road accidents stated: "The ongoing impact and devastation of the death of a loved one in these circumstances cannot adequately be put into words."
They expressed their determination to prevent further tragedies, saying: "We want to do everything in our power to prevent it from happening to anyone else. Graduated Driving Licences offer one such opportunity, backing their introduction is an easy decision."
Reflecting on the solemnity of the situation, Alison remarked: "Five of us gathered at the memorial, the same number of people that needlessly die every day on UK roads.
"We're far from alone in calling for GDL, and it's time Government acts on the advice of victims, road safety experts, charities and local leaders."
A representative for the Department for Transport (DfT) commented: "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."
They added: "Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driving Licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads.
"We are exploring options to tackle the root causes of this without unfairly penalising young drivers."
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