Motor Insurance

Ban young drivers from carrying passengers under 21, AA says

Young drivers should be banned from carrying passengers of a similar age for six months after passing their test, the AA has said.

The motoring association said nearly 1,000 serious injuries and deaths would be prevented every year if the new rules were brought in for under 21s.

Reducing injuries and deaths in young people would lead to cheaper car insurance for young drivers, the AA said.

Young drivers should also face six penalty points for not wearing a seatbelt - which would mean they lose their licence if caught.

Under the AA's proposals, they would have to display a 'G' plate for the first six months after passing their test, with prosecution for failing to do so.

Northern Ireland already has similar measures, with a graduated driving licence (GDL) for new drivers. The scheme was due to be rolled out across the UK before the Department for Transport scrapped it in 2020. It does not have plans to introduce it across the rest of the country.

Jakob Pfaudler, CEO of The AA, said: “Graduated Driver Licensing has been proven in other countries to significantly reduce road deaths and serious injuries.

“Figures show 290 people were killed in young driver crashes last year with more than 4,669 seriously injured. Not only is this a tragic waste of life, but it contributes to the burden of high insurance premiums for young drivers. These premiums should fall when there is evidence of a reduction of young drivers and passengers killed and seriously injured.

“We are calling on the Transport Secretary to make simple, pragmatic changes to the licensing process so young people are better protected in their first few months of independent driving.”

Figures from the DfT show 290 people were killed and 4,669 were seriously injured in crashes on Britain's roads last year involving at least one driver aged 17-24.

Countries where a GDL scheme has been introduced have seen death rates reduce by 20 percent and serious injuries reduce by 40 percent.

That would mean 58 lives could be saved on UK roads every year, and 934 serious injuries prevented.

Sharron Huddleston's daughter, Caitlin, died aged 18 in a car crash in Cumbria in 2017. She was the passenger in a car driven by her 18-year-old friend who also died, and had passed her test four months earlier.

Sharron, who founded Forget-me-not Families Uniting group as a result of her experience, said: "Graduated licences are a crucial issue. How many more young people need to die before action is taken?

“Our message is simple – listen to us, listen to the experts, listen to The AA, and learn from other countries, who have seen a huge reduction in young driver and passenger deaths after introducing graduated driving licensing for young novice drivers. My daughter, Caitlin, would be alive today if action had been taken when the concept of graduated licences was floated years ago.”

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Helen Barnett

Helen is a journalist, editor and copywriter with 15 years' experience writing across print and digital publications. She previously edited the Daily Express website and has won awards as a reporter. Read more here.

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