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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.”

How Driving Without a Valid MOT Could Soon Cost You Penalty Points Under New Road Safety Plans

The government's first road safety strategy in over a decade ...
05/20/2026 By Jarrod
Afternoon traffic on busy British motorway M1

What Six Summer Motorway Closures Mean for West Midlands Drivers Between June and August

Millions of drivers who use the M6 and M42 motorways ...
05/20/2026 By Jarrod
2027 Volvo EX60 electric SUV front three-quarter view US debut

Why 10,500 Volvo EX30 Owners Are Being Told Not to Charge Above 70 Per Cent

Volvo has recalled 10,500 electric cars in the UK over ...
05/20/2026 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.”

What a Six Month Minimum Learning Period Would Mean for Every New Driver in Britain

On 11 May 2026, the government's consultation on a new ...
05/20/2026 By Jarrod
Close up of hand filling up car with fuel at a UK fuel station.

Why the Fuel Duty U-Turn Means You Will Not Pay 5p More Per Litre This September

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to confirm that the temporary ...
05/20/2026 By Jarrod
Mechanic Testing Car Battery

Why Your Used Electric Car Could Have a Battery Problem No One Will Fix

Britain's used electric car market is growing rapidly, with tens ...
05/20/2026 By Jarrod
Eco mode button on a Mercedes-Benz ML-Class BlueTec

What Does ‘Eco’ Mean on a Car?

Eco on a car is a selectable drive mode that ...
05/20/2026 By Jarrod
Aerial view of car storage or parking lot with new and used vehicles for export to USA and Internationally. Vehicle transportation facility, waiting to pass customs, duties licenses and permits.

Why Britain’s Record Used Car Boom Is Creating a Facebook Marketplace VIN Fraud Crisis

British drivers bought and sold a record 7,807,872 used cars ...
05/20/2026 By Jarrod
Parents can have a lesson at Young Driver to make sure bad habits haven’t slipped in

What the DVSA June 9 Rule Means for Every Learner With a Test Already Booked

From 9 June 2026, the rules around moving a booked ...
05/20/2026 By Jarrod
Close up of hand filling up car with fuel at a UK fuel station.

How the Iran War Has Cost UK Drivers £2 Billion at the Pump

Every time a British driver pulls into a forecourt, a ...
05/20/2026 By Jarrod