New drivers face six-month graduate licences with restrictions
- Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s calling for tighter legislation around new drivers
- GDLs impose restrictions on young drivers to reduce crashes and fatalities
- Previous attempts have been unsuccessful but this bill has a second reading
A new bill has been introduced in Parliament designed to tighten rules for new drivers in the form of Graduated Driving Licences.
The bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, would impose restrictions on young drivers during the initial six months as a licence-holder.
GDLs are backed by a number of safety organisations, and the bill has cross-party support in the House of Commons.
This is the latest in a number of attempts made in recent years to introduce GDLs into law – most notably in 2020 – but none so far have stuck despite many parliamentary debates.
The bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, would impose restrictions on young drivers during the initial six months as a licence-holder
When was the last GDL attempt?
The last attempt to introduce GDLs was in 2018, when then Prime Minister Theresa May instructed the Department for Transport (DfT) to investigate implementing a graduated licencing scheme.
The question of GDLs had been raised by Labour MP for Darlington, Jenny Chapman, during PM Questions.
A pilot scheme for Northern Ireland was announced in 2018, and set to begin in 2019/20. It still hasn’t been introduced.
In October 2020, following an inquiry by the Transport Committee, the graduate licence scheme was dropped.
Why are GDLs being proposed?
GDLs have been backed for years by many safety organisations, including the RAC and AA.
A GDL lets new drivers gain experience gradually, and reduce the risks that surround inexperienced drivers. The first 1,000 miles a young and inexperienced driver covers are seen as crucial.
Mainly GDLs are proposed to reduce accidents and fatalities caused by young drivers.
In 2022 accidents totalled 29,742 in the UK – a fifth of which involved a young driver.
New Zealand is among the countries where a similar scheme has been introduced. Since legislation has come in, there’s been a 23 per cent reduction in car collision injuries for 15 to 19-year-olds, and a 12 per cent reduction for 20 to 24-year-olds..
In 2022 accidents totalled 29,742 in the UK – a fifth of which involved a young driver
What does a GDL entail?
A GDL allows new drivers to pass through stages of experience learning and restriction – from winter weather driving to limits on the number of passengers and late night driving – where supervision is required.
As new drivers progress through stages, they gain more privileges until they are granted a full driver’s licence after completing all the requirements.
Back in 2013, the RAC outlined a GDL with similar conditions. The probationary two-year period in which new drivers will have their test revoked if they get six points, currently exists today.
Will this attempt to introduce GDLs be different?
On Tuesday 7 May, Batley and Spen MP Kim Leadbeater introduced the bill dubbed the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (New Drivers) Bill.
Leadbeater has been campaigning for road safety since shortly after she was elected in July 2021.
She took up GDLs after meeting with Dr Ian Greenwood, who lost his 12-year-old daughter Alice when the car her mother was driving was hit by an 18-year-old driver.
Both the 18-year-old and his 16-year-old passenger were also killed.
While the bill proposal is largely based on the same stage-restrictive learning programme of previous GDL attempts, this time it’s been introduced into Parliament under the ‘Ten Minute Rule’.
This rule allows a backbench MP to make his or her case for a new Bill in a speech lasting up to ten minutes.
An opposing speech might then be made and after which, if the House decides the Bill should be introduced, it has its first reading.
Batley and Spen MP Kim Leadbeater has been campaigning for road safety since shortly after she was elected in July 2021
Kim Leadbeater said in her speech: ‘The Bill is not about taking away young people’s freedom or fun; it is about trying to save their lives.
‘By giving them [young drivers] the opportunity to build their experience and confidence during the first six months of driving after passing their test, we can try to ensure they have a happy lifetime of driving and the future that they deserve. Road fatalities and serious injuries are not inevitable. Our roads can and must be safer.’
The licences are also back by the AA, the RAC and Brake, and has the support of the Association of British Insurers and the UK Road Offender Education (UKROEd).
The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) has opposed the bill, telling Auto Express that the bill is ‘more restriction over positive innovation’, but largely the support is there.
In this case, the proposal has cross-party support in the House of Commons, with the Common’s Transport Select Committee calling for the government to implement a GDL scheme in 2021.
The bill has read for the first time and will receive its second reading on 17 May.
