MOTORISTS SUPPORT GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO ABANDON GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSING FOR YOUNG DRIVERS
But TTC research finds 68% call for the enforcement of a ‘zero alcohol or drug’ drive limit for all drivers backed by awareness training
New research conducted by driver training and compliance expert TTC, found that 60% of adults it surveyed welcomed the Government’s decision to abandon plans for a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system for young drivers. The scheme would have placed a set of restrictions on new drivers aged 17-24, who have recently passed their practical test for an initial period of time. However, when asked what other road safety interventions for young drivers should be considered, 68% backed enforcing a ‘zero alcohol or drug’ drive limit for all drivers, with just over half of respondents supporting the introduction of motorway driving as part of the practical driving test.
A GDL scheme is a multi-stage system designed to gradually introduce young, novice drivers to full driving privileges, with measures focused on reducing risk. Successfully adopted in countries such as the USA, New Zealand and Sweden, they typically include restrictions like driving only with a more experienced adult, limited driving hours, and passenger limits, to help them gain experience and improve safety on the roads before becoming a fully independent driver.
To really hit home the impact of reckless driving by young drivers, 47% of respondents supported the addition of a documentary as part of the theory test, which tells the ‘real stories’ of those who have been killed on the road and the consequences on their friends and families. Just under 1 in 4 would like to see incentivising young adult education facilities to offer theory-based advanced driver training as part of their curriculum.
“The news that the GDL has been scrapped comes as a blow to many road safety campaigners who have promoted it as a positive move in a bid to help reduce road casualty figures,” comments David Marsh, CEO at TTC Group. “Whilst there has been a 60% decrease in the number of young driver incidents s, there is clear evidence that a disproportionate number of people are still being killed or seriously injured in collisions involving a young driver. There were 4,959 fatalities in 2023 alone. Introducing measured road safety interventions not only safeguards those inexperienced drivers but also other road users.”
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said the Government was exploring ways to tackle the issue of road deaths “without unfairly penalising young drivers”. The DfT has now received the final report for Driver 2020, the largest young driver research project aimed at improving the safety of newly qualified drivers by studying interventions and training methods that can enhance their skills and confidence during their first year of driving after passing their test
Capturing future young drivers before they leave school, TTC delivers classroom and virtual road safety workshops for students as young as 15 years old. The workshop includes driver distraction, speed management, drink and drug driving, seat belt use, driver fatigue and careless driving.
Concludes Marsh, “We cannot ignore the fact, that so many young drivers are involved in collisions in their first year of driving. Teaching road safety to young adults whilst they are still in an existing educational environment, will provide the next generation of road users a potentially life-saving set of practical skills before leaving school, giving them a head start into being safer and better drivers in the future. The recommendations that come out of the Driver2020 report are eagerly awaited so we can drive down young driver incidents further.”
For further information please visit Young Driver Awareness Workshops