New drivers under the age of 25 could face a ban from carrying young passengers in their vehicle as part of a ‘graduated driving licence’ scheme being considered by Government.
Transport minister Richard Holden will consider the plan with road safety campaigners at a meeting on May 16.
Road safety charity Brake say drivers of that age are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash if they are driving with others - claiming peer pressure leads to young motorists showing off.
New restrictions would see amendments made to the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act to ban passengers under the age of 25 in the driver's first year or six months.
The Act already bans drivers if they get six points in their first two years of driving.
It has been backed by Support for Victims of Road Crashes - an advisory to the Department of Transport - and National Police Chief's Council Roads Policing lead Jo Shiner.
Extra restrictions on newly qualified drivers, which would have seen curfews and limits on passengers in the car, were dismissed in January 2022, because there was a recognition that young drivers needed to use cars for employment.
Government statistics show as many as a quarter of new drivers are involved in accidents in their first two years on the road.
In a statement to The Times, the Department for Transport (DfT) said: “Every death or serious injury on our roads is a tragedy and we continue to work tirelessly to improve road safety for all users.
“Our approach to improving safety for new and novice drivers is through new technology and improving education, while reinforcing vital road safety messages through our Think! campaign.”
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Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
Sage & Onion - 02/05/2023 14:49
Whilst the aims of this scheme are obviously in the right place, do we really want to become a society where the fun in life is gradually being replaced with regulation and made unlawful? Just think back to when you first passed your driving test and that feeling of new found freedom. Now imagine having that feeling but where you can only experience it on your own for 6-months to a year. There's got to be better ways to address these statistics. Better education maybe? Put such safety statistical questions in the theory test maybe? Some young drivers may gain valuable confidence from their peers as they build their driving experience.