AA seeks to ban new under-21 drivers carrying passengers of a similar age in the UK

Drivers under 21 should be prohibited from carrying passengers of a similar age for six months after passing their test, the AA has said.

The group, the foremost association for motorists in the UK, has proposed strict measures that they argue would potentially prevent 924 serious injuries and 58 deaths in the UK annually.

Under these new tougher rules, new drivers would also be handed six penalty points for not wearing their seatbelt during their first six months, meaning their licence would be revoked.

4,959 people were killed or injured in crashes involving drivers under 25 last year, according to figures from the Department for Transport

Drivers would further be obligated to display a G plate on their vehicle. A failure to do so would result in three penalty points.

4,959 people were killed or injured in crashes involving drivers under 25 last year, according to figures from the Department for Transport (DfT).

Jakob Pfaudler, the AA’s Chief Executive, told The Guardian: “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.”

Graduated driving licenses (GDL) have been adopted in several countries including the US, Canada, Australia, and Sweden. Jack Cousens, the AA’s Head of Road Policy, told BBC Radio 5Live, that countries with a GDL policy saw “a reduction of death and serious injuries to younger drivers and their passengers” by 20% to 40%.

I thought, ‘What the hell is going on? Why is this or some version of it not law?’

Crystal Owen, mother of car accident victim

Crystal Owen, whose son, Harvey, was killed in a car accident last year, said GDLs could save lives.

She told The Sunday Times: “I thought, ‘What the hell is going on? Why is this or some version of it not law?’”

She added: “Their [young drivers’] brains are not fully formed, which is why we have other restrictions on things like buying cigarettes.”

Owen has co-founded a campaign group, Forget-me-not Families Uniting, and has launched a petition calling for “Safer Driving Licensing for Newly Qualified 17–19 Year Olds”. The petition had reached just over 19,000 signatures, as of 10 November.

The AA’s proposal has faced pushback from young drivers themselves, however.

If I’m paying for my car, the insurance, and the tax – why should they be able to control who is allowed in it?

Faye Callum, young driver

Faye Callum, a 16-year-old from Norfolk who has been taking driving lessons designed for people under 17, told the BBC: “If this rule came into place, it wouldn’t give me any motivation to drive at all. I want to drive because it gives me a lot more freedom.”

She added: “If I’m paying for my car, the insurance, and the tax – why should they be able to control who is allowed in it?”

Some are instead calling for elderly drivers to face tougher driving restrictions. The fatality rate from road traffic accidents involving under 25s has fallen by 60% since 2004, whilst last year, there were 3,461 casualties involving drivers aged 70 and over – a rise of 12% since 2004.

Edmund King, President of the AA, has warned against this, speaking of social isolation if the elderly are deterred from driving. He stressed the importance of “getting the balance right, as it is with younger drivers”.

The DfT has ruled out the Government adopting the AA’s proposals.

A spokesperson said: “Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way.

“Whilst we are not considering graduated driving licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads, and we are considering other measures to tackle this problem and protect young drivers.”