Driving licence changes could impact millions of Britons with new restrictions behind the wheel
Experts have backed new changes to driving licence requirements
PA
Motorists could face new driving laws to improve safety on UK roads and prevent the number of casualties, which has been increasing in recent years.
The law comes in the form of the Graduated Driving Licence Bill which gained traction in 2022 but failed to pass through Parliament, which would see young drivers subject to restrictions in their first year behind the wheel.
The restrictions include a minimum learning period of at least six months as well as a minimum number of hours of practice of at least 50-60 hours.
Drivers under 21 would be unable to carry peer-aged passengers for the first six months and would also be prohibited from driving between midnight and 4am for the first six months of a new licence.
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Learner drivers could be hit with six-months worth of restrictions
PAHowever, the latest road casualty stats could result in the return of such policies as more organisations support the measures to increase road safety.
It comes after the latest stats found that young male car drivers aged between 17 and 24 are four times as likely to be killed or seriously injured compared with all car drivers aged 25 or over.
According to the latest reports, 29,429 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads between June 2022 and June 2023.
Labour MP, Kim Leadbeater introduced the measures in Parliament earlier this year. She told the House of Commons: “We must never forget that behind statistic there are thousands of lives, right across the country, grieving or going through unimaginable pain. Lives changed forever and families torn apart by tragic and often avoidable collisions.”
The Bill has been backed by motoring organisations like the AA and RAC which called on all political parties to do more to boost road safety.
Leadbeater added: “The Bill I am presenting today would place restrictions on newly qualified drivers for the first six months immediately after they pass their test, following consultation.
"Substantial evidence shows that, during that time, drivers are statistically much more likely to be involved in a collision, often with devastating consequences."
Rod Dennis, RAC road safety spokesperson, suggested that urgent changes were needed to help slash the number of dangerous accidents.
He stated: “The tragic statistics speak for themselves. Young drivers, especially men, are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads, so it’s high time a renewed focus was given to reducing casualties.
"Families up and down the country who have lost sons and daughters far too soon are looking for something to change, and graduated driving licences could well be the answer.”
IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes also highlighted the need to improve road safety, saying that progress on reducing road casualties has “stagnated” for over a decade.
Lyes urged the new Labour Government to publish a road safety strategy which targets improving driving and riding standards.
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Under 21s could be banned from driving at night under GDL plans
PAThe Government data also found that younger drivers accounted for a relatively large proportion of both car driver casualties and casualties in collisions involving cars.
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