At least 58 lives could be saved annually by graduated driver licensing (GDL), The AA estimates, as it steps up its calls for the system to be introduced.
The AA’s chief executive Jakob Pfaudler has written to transport secretary Louise Haigh to highlight the motoring organisation’s strengthened calls for the introduction of GDL.
It comes as The AA launches its policy on GDL. Among the measures The AA would like to see implemented are:
- New drivers under the age of 21 would not be allowed to carry peer-age passengers for six months after passing their test, with exemptions for parents/carers.
- 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.
- 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: “GDL 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 4,669 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 research shows the 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%).
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.”
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