The motorcycle sector in the UK has had graduated licence tests for decades now, with powerful bikes over 47bhp restricted to those age 21 plus. On top of that the complex training regime off the public highway, plus helmet, riding kit etc. also places a £2500 price premium in the way of many younger would-be bikers. So maybe a similar system aimed at car drivers under 25 might cut the accident rates, and reduce insurance premiums?
Limiting the power to weight ratio of cars that the under 25s can legally drive could be a good idea, ditto first lessons and a basic compulsory skills test at off-road at training centres, although Brake doesn’t mention either idea. Instead they focus on things like curfews and passenger bans. All useful, if enforced. But there is a sub-culture within the UK who love fast German badged cars and delight in racing each other on weekends, with many holding no licence, or just a provisional. Even their own community leaders struggle to do anything other than call for speed cameras/humps after multi-death, head-on collisions.
Hard to see how tinkering with licence applications by age, or banning passengers, will change the mindset that many foreign heritage drivers have whereby they regard UK laws as being not applicable to their lifestyle. Plus the “Feds” are fair game in their version of GTA. Add on some reluctant policing due to fears of “community tensions” and nothing will stop a cohort of younger drivers keen to prove themselves as bad boys on Instagram and TikTok, whilst ignoring any rules on licences, insurance or even ownership of the vehicle.
Until the reality of which cultural factors are causing a large percentage of high speed crashes in UK towns and cities is actually debated, and tough enforcement action is taken, including tackling “fronting” and Motability fraud, nothing will change. In fact the deaths will increase as laws are routinely ignored by a growing section of the population.
Here are some thoughts from Brake;
Published 15 April 2026, the Young Driver Safety report details the findings of an online survey of 3,000 UK adults, which sought people’s views on young driver safety and different ways in which the driver licensing system could be strengthened. A stronger licensing system – often called graduated driver licensing (GDL) – would require learner drivers to undergo enhanced training and testing over a minimum learning period, and grant driving privileges to new drivers in stages.
The report highlights that 35% of respondents have been in a road collision involving a vehicle driven by a young driver or know someone who has. That number increases to a staggering 54% among 18- to 24-year-olds. Brake’s research also reveals that more than three-quarters (77%) support changes to the driver licensing system to reduce the numbers of people killed or seriously injured in crashes involving young drivers.
The Young Driver Safety report comes after the Government announced its long-awaited road safety strategy in January, which laid out plans for making roads safer and reducing road death and injury over the next 10 years. It also launched several consultations, including on new measures aimed at tackling risks associated with young drivers and tougher penalties for driving offences.
Today, Brake calls on the Government to listen to the compelling evidence brought together in the Young Driver Safety report and commit to reforming the driver licensing system in Britain. We also urge members of the public to join us and demand action to save lives, by responding to the consultations before the 11 May deadline.
Read the Young Driver Safety report in full here: www.brake.org.uk/how-we-help/reports/young-driver-safety-report
KEY CHANGES SUGGESTED BY THE PUBLIC
Most people – 89% of respondents – agreed that everyone, regardless of their age or how they travel, should be protected from factors that are known to increase risk on the roads.
Three-quarters (75%) agreed that the driver licensing system needs to be updated to protect everyone, 77% said they would support a stronger licensing system and 72% agreed that strengthening the licensing system is essential to prevent road death and injury from crashes involving young drivers.
There is equally strong support for measures aimed at mitigating specific risks associated with young learners and newly qualified drivers:
⦁ 70% of survey respondents said there should be a minimum learning period – e.g. six months – before taking a driving test
⦁ 73% agreed that it’s OK for young, newly qualified drivers to have to wait a few months before being permitted to carry peer-age passengers
⦁ 74% think it’s OK for newly qualified drivers to wait a few months before being permitted to drive unsupervised late at night
⦁ 88% agreed that new drivers should not be allowed to drink any alcohol when driving for the first six months after passing their test
⦁ 61% back a change in the law to stop young people from driving with passengers under the age of 25 for six months after passing their test (with some exemptions).
Crucially, 79% of people think the Government has a responsibility to prevent future deaths and injuries resulting from crashes involving young drivers. And two-thirds (68%) said they would like their MP to do more to reduce the risk of crashes involving young drivers.
Ross Moorlock, Brake’s CEO, said: “Every year at Brake, we support more than 2,000 people who have been bereaved or injured in road crashes through our National Road Victim Service. So, we see first-hand the trauma and devastation that unfolds. The fact that so many crashes involve young drivers, who are just starting a new, exciting chapter of their lives as adults, adds to the heartache.
“We have campaigned for many years for a stronger driver licensing system, with provisions aimed at equipping young and newly qualified drivers with the skills and knowledge they need to safely take to the roads and gain their independence.
“We often hear that death and injury on our roads is inevitable, and that any legislative changes to driver licensing unfairly penalise young people and restrict their freedom. It is essential that we shift our perspective. We know that collisions are preventable, and stronger licensing empowers young people to be safe and responsible drivers and protects everyone who uses our roads.”
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