New driving rule could ban younger motorists from travelling with passengers

A new proposal has outlined a series of driving rule changes for young motorists - which could be implemented in the future if given the green light

A new driving rule proposal could see certain drivers facing significant motor restrictions and losing freedoms. The RAC Foundation has outlined a plan that calls for newly qualified young motorists to face licence limits in an effort to enhance road safety.

The proposed graduated licensing system would prohibit 17 to 19 year olds from carrying passengers under 25 unless they are accompanied by an older adult. This proposal could affect all under 20s, impacting those born after 2004.

The policy would apply to both friends and family members, aiming to prevent younger drivers from being distracted while driving. The rule would be in effect for the first six months after passing the practical test or until they reach their 20th birthday.

Road users found violating the law would receive six penalty points on their driving licence, which is enough for newly-qualified road users to be immediately banned. This would mean youngsters would have to retake a test to retain their licence.

According to the RAC Foundation, road casualty data indicates that young drivers are most at risk when carrying passengers. They believe that "implementing a restriction on carrying passengers" would address this risk factor and prevent numerous accidents, reports the Express.

However, these minor restrictions are not as severe as previous proposals, which called for nighttime bans on younger individuals. This would have prevented many from using their vehicle if they were working complicated shift patterns.

In a landmark proposal, the RAC Foundation is pushing for the introduction of a mandatory six-month learning period before learners can take their driving test. This rule aims to deter prospective drivers from trying to learn everything hastily and passing the driving test with minimal road experience.

Advocates for this change suggest that implementing such a measure could have prevented up to 44 deaths. The RAC Foundation further explained: "The measures place limited restrictions on a small proportion of new drivers – less than 1.5 percent of the driving population as a whole - whilst still giving individuals access to personal mobility (i.e. 17-19 year-olds can drive unrestricted on their own posttest)."

They highlighted the significance of the potential lives saved by adding, "44 lives saved would account for 2.6 percent of all road fatalities in 2022."