At least 58 lives could be saved annually by graduated driver
licensing (GDL), estimates* The AA as it steps up its calls for
the system to be introduced.
Introducing such a system could also see at least 260 serious
injuries avoided on UK roads.
The AA's chief executive Jakob Pfaudler has written to Transport
Secretary to highlight the motoring
organisation's strengthened calls for the introduction of GDL.
It comes as The AA launches its policy on GDL [ATTACHED]. Among
the measures The AA would like to see implemented are:
-
Passengers New drivers under the age of 21
would not be allowed to carry peer-age passengers, for 6 months
after passing their test, with exemptions for parents/carers.
-
Seatbelts New drivers should face six points
for not wearing a seatbelt effectively making new drivers lose
their licence for this offence under the New Drivers Act.
‘G' plate To aid police enforcement, new drivers
under 21 should display a ‘G' plate (denoting Graduate driver)
for the first six months after passing their test.
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 1,300 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.”
New AA/Yonder driver research** shows most popular element of the
AA's proposed GDL is passenger restrictions with a third (33%)
saying they would implement it over other possible GDL tactics.
The second most popular aspect of GDL to implement, if only one
could be chosen, was ‘G plates' (24%), followed by a logbook
(18%) and heavier penalties for not wearing a seatbelt (8%).
Young drivers were considerably more likely to choose heavier
seatbelt penalties as the one GDL element they would introduce
(20%). In 2023, more than one third (36%) of 17-29-year old
drivers who died in a car crash were not wearing their
seatbelt.***
Edmund King, director of The AA Charitable Trust,
said: “Support for GDL is high among drivers and
their top priority would be to introduce passenger restrictions.
Parents tell us that this would help them to restrict their
teenagers from taking passengers or being passengers with an
inexperienced driver.
“The introduction of passenger restrictions, would help mitigate
the increased risk young drivers have to manage when they have
peer-aged passengers travelling with them. A six month
restriction is a small price to pay for saving young lives.
“There is a great swell of support for the introduction of GDL so
this Government has a real opportunity to make it happen and save
lives.
“The very recent inquest into the tragic deaths of four young men
is a stark reminder that action needs to be taken to protect
young lives, and it needs to be taken sooner rather than later.”
Sharron Huddleston, who formed the Forget-me-not Families
Uniting group from those like herself who have lost loved ones in
crashes, 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.”
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* In 2023, 290 people were killed in crashes involving at least
one young driver and 1,327 seriously injured.Reported road casualties
in Great Britain: younger driver factsheet, 2023 - GOV.UK
(www.gov.uk)
In other countries, the introduction of GDL has reduced death and
serious injury from 20 per cent and up to 40 per cent. Hence if
the UK scheme saw similar reductions we estimate at least 58
deaths and 265 serious injuries could be prevented each year.
**Yonder received 10,556 responses from AA members to its online
poll between the 10th to 17th September 2024 Yonder is a member
of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
***Reported road collisions,
vehicles and casualties tables for Great Britain - GOV.UK
(www.gov.uk)
**** Gwynedd crash inquest:
Shrewsbury teens drowned in river - BBC News
