A petition calling for major driving licence changes could soon receive a major update from the Government as it nears the staggering benchmark of 100,000 signatures.
Crystal Owen launched the "Safer Driving Licensing for Newly Qualified 17-19 Year Olds" petition in October 2024, following the tragic death of her son Harvey, who was just 17.
Harvey and three of his friends lost their lives in a car crash when the group was camping in Wales. The car left the road on a bend and landed in a water-filled ditch, causing the four boys to drown.
Crystal is now calling for major changes to be introduced to improve road safety, including the launch of a Graduated Driving Licence scheme.
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Driving licence changes have been backed by road safety experts and almost 100,000 Britons
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The petition points to research which suggests that one in five newly qualified drivers crashes within their first year of motoring.
Department for Transport data also shows how almost 5,000 people are seriously injured or killed in a road traffic collision involving a young driver aged 25 and under.
Crystal said she was unaware that her son was being driven in a car by a newly qualified driver he met at college, rather than an older, experienced driver she thought he was with.
The GDL scheme that Crystal and 96,600 other people are supporting would see certain restrictions placed on motorists who have recently passed their test to ensure road safety is at the forefront for all road users.
One of the proposals includes learner drivers having to undergo a minimum six-month learning period before being eligible for a practical test.
Another includes a ban on recently qualified drivers carrying passengers under the age of 25 for the first six months after passing their test.
The campaign argues that violating this rule should result in the driver being slapped with six penalty points, as well as an immediate suspension of their licence and a requirement to retake their practical test under the New Drivers Act 1995.
Exemptions would be available for young parents, people who qualify for the enhanced rate of mobility of PIP, and members of the armed forces.
Owen said: "The boys' deaths could have been prevented if Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) had been in place. GDL has proven effective worldwide for over 30 years, reducing deaths and serious injuries involving young, inexperienced drivers by up to 40 per cent.
"I am now part of a campaign group of over 150 bereaved families called 'Forget Me Not Families Uniting'. These short-term safety measures could prevent approximately 537 deaths and serious injuries each year in the UK where 17-19-year-old drivers are involved."
While the petition is not on the Parliament's dedicated petitions platform, it is expected that the issue will make it onto the agenda of both the Government and the Parliament.
Generally, when a petition receives 10,000 signatures, it will receive a response from the Government department responsible, while 100,000 signatures could see it considered for a debate in Parliament.
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Crystal Owen, whose son Harvey Owen, 17, was one of four teenagers killed in a crash last year, said law changes need to be made PAThe petition has been supported by road safety organisations around the UK including Brake, and influential road safety campaigners like Dr Ian Greenwood and Edmund King OBE.
A DfT spokesperson told GB News: "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.
"Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driving Licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads, and we are considering other measures to tackle this problem and protect young drivers."
