UK rejects graduated licences for young drivers

The government omits graduated licences in a new road safety strategy drawing safety groups into a broader debate over how to protect new drivers.

UK Rejects Graduated Licences for Young Drivers

The government unveiled a broad road safety strategy that will be published in the autumn. The package includes measures to check eye sight for older drivers over 70, align England and Wales drink drive limits with Scotland, and assign penalties for not wearing a seat belt. It comes after a coroner called the licensing system the laxest in Europe and urged tougher action. Graduated licences for new drivers are not part of the plan.

Crucially the plan does not include graduated licences for new drivers. Davies-Jones said the idea could potentially overly target younger drivers and unfairly discriminate against them, especially those who are working parents or carers. Campaigners have pressed for restrictions such as a learning period, restrictions on passenger numbers for new drivers, or late night curfews. The RAC has urged the government to spell out which measures will have the biggest effect. A Department for Transport spokesperson said the government will tackle youth road dangers through the THINK campaign and that the strategy will be the first in over a decade.

The decision to skip graduated licences reflects a political and social balancing act. It signals a preference for broad safety upgrades over targeted licensing rules that could be seen as punishing youth. The policy sounds firm about danger while avoiding a backlash from those who worry about fairness and mobility for young people.

In the longer run, the autumn strategy will test whether incremental changes win broad public support or whether stronger action is demanded. If data show high crash rates among new drivers, lawmakers may revisit licencing rules or add specific restrictions to slow the first year of risk. The key lesson for policymakers is that safety needs to be paired with fairness if it will endure.

Highlights

The autumn road safety strategy will test whether safety gains come from incremental changes or bold steps.