Graduated driver licensing 'could save thousands of lives'

14/10/2022 | DOMINIC BROWNE

A new study has found that graduated driver licensing (GDL) can improve road safety while having 'minimal impact' on new drivers’ access to education, employment and social activities.

A report by TRL – Supporting New Drivers in Great Britain - for the RAC Foundation and the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, found that the UK lags behind other countries in implementing GDL due to concerns which are essentially unfounded.

Worries associated with GDL, such as access to employment and education, its impact on rural areas and the difficulty of enforcement, were largely dismissed by the new study.

GDL imposes some limited restrictions on new drivers, most of whom are young, to allow them to safely gain experience in the critical few months after they pass their test.

These limitations commonly target known risk situations, such as driving in the dark and carrying peer-age passengers.

The RAC Foundation highlighted that currently, young drivers are disproportionately likely to be involved in a crash, with pre-COVID data showing that almost a quarter (24%) of those killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads were in a collision involving a young driver (aged 17-24 years old) even though this age group makes up only about 7% of the total driving population.

International evidence shows that GDL, in one form or another, can reduce collisions and trauma from collisions involving young drivers, by 20-40%.

Having conducted a literature review, interviews with young people in Great Britain and interviews with international experts, the authors (Dr Shaun Helman, Dr Neale Kinnear, Jack Hitchings and Dr Sarah Jones) of the TRL study conclude that: 'Serious adverse impacts are not seen or expected in any of the areas considered.

'This is because all stakeholders (new drivers, and their friends and families; employers; and service providers) were found to adapt to restrictions, with evidence showing that exemptions and changes in travel patterns help people to maintain the most important elements of their mobility, while still benefitting from well-evidenced improvements in safety.'

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'Rather than limiting young people’s life chances, GDL is all about ensuring they can seize them safely. Immediately after young people pass their driving tests they are at the point of greatest risk, but the evidence from overseas is that a framework of minimal restrictions and exemptions would enable these new drivers to access a world of opportunity in the safest possible way for themselves and other road users.

'The mistake critics of GDL make is to think of it as a single bundle of restrictions rather than a menu where even minimal constraints can cut death and injury whilst still being applied proportionately to accommodate the trips – such as getting to work and college – that young drivers need to make.'

Dr Shaun Helman, chief scientist at TRL, said: 'We often hear ministers say that Great Britain has been a leader in road safety, but this is one area in which we have lagged behind other countries over the last three decades. GDL is a simple, evidence-based approach to licensing that we know reduces risk and that this work confirms does not lead to serious reductions in mobility for young people, or problems with enforcement.

'It would spare thousands of people every year from preventable death and life-changing injury, and thousands more from the grief of losing loved ones to road trauma.'

Dr Neale Kinnear, lead behavioural scientist at Humn, said: 'Managing young driver risk through phased licensing has been effective in every country where it has been implemented.

'Contrary to the concerns raised by the Transport Select Committee and DfT, putting in place measures to manage young driver risk has many advantages for young people and the economy, not least the saving of lives and the unnecessary and preventable trauma it causes.'

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Senior Technician-Road Closures

£35,422 - £38,730
The Network Planning division is seeking to appoint someone who is enthusiastic and a team player Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Technician - Road Closures (2 Posts)

£29,719 - £31,691
The Network Planning division is seeking to appoint someone who is enthusiastic, an excellent team player Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Structures Inspector

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for two Permanent Structure Inspectors to join our dynamic SBIM team Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have fantastic opportunities for a permanent Highways Maintenance Operatives Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: Amey

Site Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Site Manager Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Principal Commercial Manager

£Competitive
The SBIM contract involves delivering inspection and maintenance programmes for National Highways Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Commercial Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Senior Commercial Manager Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have fantastic opportunities for a permanent Highways Maintenance Operatives. Northampton, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: Amey

Managing QS

£Competitive
In this role, you will support the Senior Commercial team in the end to end commercial process for the Area 12 contract. Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Inspection Officer

£32,962 - £36,791 per annum
We have an exciting opportunity for a Highways Inspection Officer to join us! Windsor, Berkshire
Recruiter: The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Highways Technical Assistant

£29,064 - £31,537
Are you looking for a varied role in a dynamic and innovative team environment that can make a real difference to North Yorkshire’s highways? Leeming Bar, Northallerton
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Street Lighting Electrical Inspector

£34,434 - £38,220 per annum
Do you hold an ONC in electrical engineering or City & Guilds Electrician? Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior bridge Engineer - WMF2212e

£47,181 - £48,226
You will be the key responsible engineer for this area and will also provide technical advice and guidance to our team Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Civil Enforcement Officer - WMF2221e

£28,598 - £29,540
Are you seeking an active and challenging role, part of a friendly and welcoming team? Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Bridge Engineer - WMF2219e

£42,839 - £44,075
We are currently seeking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic Bridge Engineer Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Public Transport Officer

£42,839 - £46,142
We are looking for an experienced public transport professional to become our Senior Public Transport Officer. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy) (Fixed-Term)

£48,226-£51,356
We are looking for an experienced professional to join as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy) Northampton, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Mobile Street Scene Operative

£24,796 to £25,989 per annum
The Waste and Street Scene department requires enthusiastic and committed mobile street cleansing operative. Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Technician - Highways Design (2 Posts)

Grade 10 £35,422 - 38,730 per annum
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Professional Services Section Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Engineer External Contracts

Grade 11 £39,865 - 43,270 per annum
You will lead a team of Clerks of Works Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW