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Freedom or safety for young drivers? UK can and must deliver both, says GEM 11/05/2026 SHARE: Images are for editorial use only. Experts gathering at Young Driver Focus in London on 13 May to press for action, not further delay Young drivers remain disproportionately at risk, with preventable deaths continuing on UK roads International evidence shows graduated driver licensing can cut crashes by up to 40% GEM Motoring Assist will return to the RAC Club, London, on 13 May as headline sponsor of Young Driver Focus 2026, renewing calls for decisive action to improve protection for newly-qualified drivers. Despite years of evidence and advocacy, the UK has yet to introduce a comprehensive system of graduated driver licensing (GDL) - a move GEM and other road safety groups say is costing young lives. GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “We are long past the point of asking whether we should act. The evidence is overwhelming, and the consequences of delay are measured in lives lost and families devastated.” GDL is a phased approach that allows new drivers to gain experience under lower-risk conditions before progressing to full driving privileges. Common measures include limits on late-night driving and restrictions on carrying same-age passengers during the months after passing the test. International research consistently shows crash reductions of between 20% and 40% where GDL systems are in place. In some regions of Canada, reductions in young driver deaths have exceeded 80%. In the UK, drivers aged 17 to 24 account for around 20% of road deaths, despite making up just 7% of licence holders. Inexperience, distraction and overconfidence remain key risk factors - precisely the issues GDL is designed to address. GEM stresses that a well-designed system supports rather than penalises young people, and a recent TRL review1 found no significant negative impact on access to education, employment or social activity. GEM supports a system that extends structured learning, reduces known high-risk conditions and allows young drivers to build skills progressively and safely. GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “We do many things well in the UK, particularly in driver training, but the current system offers too little structured support once someone passes the test. That’s where the real risk begins. “The choice is simple: continue with a system we know is failing too many young people, or take proven steps that will save lives. Doing nothing is not a neutral position - it is a decision with consequences… and Young Driver Focus offers a chance to translate the latest insight into real-world action.”

Car Insurance Fronting Now Risks a Voided Policy for Half of UK Drivers

A 2026 survey of 1,000 UK drivers found 56% name ...
10/12/2026 By Jarrod
London, United Kingdom - November 26, 2025. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves poses with the red Budget Box as she leaves 11 Downing Street.

What the October 28 Budget Could Mean for Every UK Driver’s Fuel and Car Tax Bills

Chancellor John Healey delivers his first Budget on 28 October ...
10/12/2026 By Jarrod
Ford Puma - new model car presentation in showroom - under the hood — Photo by bondvit

America Is Investigating This Engine. Britain Has Not Recalled One Car

A US safety investigation into a small petrol engine opened ...
10/12/2026 By Jarrod
School Bus

Why Connecticut Drivers Cruising in the Left Lane Now Face an $88 Fine

Connecticut drivers who linger in the left lane without passing ...
10/12/2026 By Jarrod
5 Essential Tips for Driving Safely Through Floods

Hurricane Isaias Flooded Thousands of Cars That Could Reach Used Lots

Hurricane Isaias slammed into the Florida Panhandle near Destin on ...
10/12/2026 By Jarrod
Motorway from the air

Gas Prices Jump to $4.36 a Gallon as the National Average Rises 40 Percent in a Year

The national average for regular gas hit $4.3585 a gallon ...
10/12/2026 By Jarrod
Mechanic working on car diagnostics. Garage workshop

NHTSA Recalls Over 346,000 Vehicles From Ram, Ford, VW and Land Rover

Five separate NHTSA recalls announced this week cover more than ...
10/12/2026 By Jarrod

Why Every Used Car Buyer Should Check Which Models Cost £44,401 to Repair

Warrantywise analysed 1.6 million UK repair records from cars aged ...
10/11/2026 By Jarrod
Freedom or safety for young drivers? UK can and must deliver both, says GEM 11/05/2026 SHARE: Images are for editorial use only. Experts gathering at Young Driver Focus in London on 13 May to press for action, not further delay Young drivers remain disproportionately at risk, with preventable deaths continuing on UK roads International evidence shows graduated driver licensing can cut crashes by up to 40% GEM Motoring Assist will return to the RAC Club, London, on 13 May as headline sponsor of Young Driver Focus 2026, renewing calls for decisive action to improve protection for newly-qualified drivers. Despite years of evidence and advocacy, the UK has yet to introduce a comprehensive system of graduated driver licensing (GDL) - a move GEM and other road safety groups say is costing young lives. GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “We are long past the point of asking whether we should act. The evidence is overwhelming, and the consequences of delay are measured in lives lost and families devastated.” GDL is a phased approach that allows new drivers to gain experience under lower-risk conditions before progressing to full driving privileges. Common measures include limits on late-night driving and restrictions on carrying same-age passengers during the months after passing the test. International research consistently shows crash reductions of between 20% and 40% where GDL systems are in place. In some regions of Canada, reductions in young driver deaths have exceeded 80%. In the UK, drivers aged 17 to 24 account for around 20% of road deaths, despite making up just 7% of licence holders. Inexperience, distraction and overconfidence remain key risk factors - precisely the issues GDL is designed to address. GEM stresses that a well-designed system supports rather than penalises young people, and a recent TRL review1 found no significant negative impact on access to education, employment or social activity. GEM supports a system that extends structured learning, reduces known high-risk conditions and allows young drivers to build skills progressively and safely. GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “We do many things well in the UK, particularly in driver training, but the current system offers too little structured support once someone passes the test. That’s where the real risk begins. “The choice is simple: continue with a system we know is failing too many young people, or take proven steps that will save lives. Doing nothing is not a neutral position - it is a decision with consequences… and Young Driver Focus offers a chance to translate the latest insight into real-world action.”

How DVSA Data Reveals Which Driving Test Centres Give You the Best Odds

DVSA's own test volume data shows rural driving test centres ...
10/11/2026 By Jarrod
Diesel being pumped into car at petrol station

Every UK Driver Faces Two More Fuel Duty Rises Worth 4p by March 2027

Fuel duty is rising for the first time in 15 ...
10/11/2026 By Jarrod