The government’s planned overhaul of driving laws in Great Britain has a “major oversight” by not including stronger driving licence rules for new and young motorists, the AA has said.
A number of proposed changes to driving laws were set out on Monday, including possible driving bans for over 70s who fail compulsory eye tests.
There have been calls for the introduction of graduated licences, which would place limits on new drivers, such as not carrying peer-age passengers for an initial period after they pass their practical test.
But Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones told the there were no plans to introduce such measures over concerns they might “unfairly discriminate” against young parents or carers.
The AA welcomed the government’s plans in the main, but said “the missing element is measures to safeguard and to save new driver and passenger lives by limiting peer-age passengers for six months”.
The latest government figures show a quarter of fatalities from road collisions involve at least one young driver.
They also suggest that male drivers between the ages of 17 and 24 are more likely to be killed or seriously injured than any other age group, apart from those aged 86 or older.
Road safety charity Brake said this was due to young drivers being more likely to take risks on the road or crash when they have passengers of their own age, something that does not happen as much for older drivers.
On Monday, the government announced a radical shake-up of driving laws in Great Britain. The changes are expected to be included in a new road safety strategy set to be published in the autumn.
The proposals include measures to ban motorists over 70 from driving if they fail compulsory eye tests – a move that comes after an inquest into four deaths caused by drivers with failing eyesight saw a coroner call the UK’s licensing system the “laxest in Europe”.
Other plans would involve reducing the drink-driving limit in England and Wales to be in line with Scotland’s laws, and giving people points on their licence for not wearing a seatbelt, which Davies-Jones cited as part of the government’s plans to protect younger motorists.
Asked why graduated licences had not been included, she told Breakfast: “We feel it could potentially overly target younger drivers and unfairly discriminate against them, particularly those who are young parents, young carers, for those who are working, for example.
“This is not currently something that is being looked at. But we will keep everything under review.”
Campaigners have previously called for similar restrictions, arguing that new drivers should not be permitted to carry passengers aged 25 or under for an initial period, or until they turn 20, unless accompanied by an older adult.
The RAC has also pushed for such limits under a graduated licensing scheme. Other measures suggested include:
- A minimum six-month learning period for learner drivers before they are eligible for a practical test
- Introducing driving curfews during certain times, most likely late at night
- A reduction in the legal alcohol limit for driving or zero alcohol
Its head of policy, Simon Williams, said: “We are keen to find out what measures [the government] believes will make the biggest difference, especially given so many young drivers are involved in collisions in their first year of driving.”
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said: “Whilst we are not considering graduated driving licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign.
“We are considering other measures to address this problem and protect young drivers, as part of our upcoming strategy for road safety – the first in over a decade.”
