Three in four support Graduated Driving Licence-style measures across rest of UK as Northern Ireland scheme starts

• 77% support measures similar to Northern Ireland’s Graduated Driver Licensing system being introduced across the rest of the UK

• Peer-age passenger restrictions are the most popular measure, backed by 68%

• Latest government figures show 17-to-24-year-olds hold just 6.3% of full driving licences but accounted for 19% of car-driver fatalities

• AA calls for six-month peer-age passenger limits for newly qualified drivers under 21

An overwhelming majority (77%) would support measures similar to Northern Ireland’s new Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system being introduced across the rest of the UK to improve the safety of young and newly qualified drivers.

The research, from an AA survey,* comes as Northern Ireland introduces changes today (1/10/26) to the way new drivers learn and additional protections once they pass their test.

What is Northern Ireland’s new Graduated Driving Licence system?

Northern Ireland’s GDL system will introduce a six-month minimum learning period, completion of a training syllabus and logbook before taking the practical test, and a two-year new-driver period during which R plates must be displayed.

For newly qualified drivers under 24, the first six months after passing will also include a night-time passenger restriction: between 11pm and 6am they may carry no more than one passenger aged 14–20, with exemptions for immediate family and where an appropriately qualified accompanying driver is present. The practical driving test will also change from 1 April 2027, to include a longer independent-driving section and use of sat nav.

Drivers back passenger restrictions for newly qualified young drivers

More than two-thirds of drivers (68%) would welcome a similar peer-age passenger restriction for newly qualified young drivers in Great Britain.

More than half (56%) are in favour of a special plate identifying young newly qualified drivers as new drivers, while 53% support a structured learning programme covering a range of roads and driving conditions. Two-fifth (39%) would like learners to have a minimum learning period before taking the practical driving test.

Why are Graduated Driving Licence measures being considered?

The findings coincide with new Department for Transport figures, which underline the risks associated with young drivers. Drivers aged 17-to-24 accounted for just 6.3% of full driving licence holders in 2025, but 19% of all car-driver fatalities in Great Britain. Collisions involving at least one 17-to-24-year-old car driver resulted in 269 deaths and 4,466 serious injuries among road users during the year.

The figures also show the particular risk to young passengers. Between 2021 and 2025, people aged 16-to-24 accounted for 85% of passenger fatalities and 81% of passengers killed or seriously injured while travelling in cars driven by a young driver.

The AA supports GDL measures including a six-month peer-passenger restriction for newly qualified drivers under 21, alongside a mandatory logbook and a minimum learning period.

 

Edmund King, Director of the AA Charitable Trust, said: “Northern Ireland’s introduction of Graduated Driver Licensing is a significant moment for young driver safety and brings into practice many of the measures we have been calling for.

“The latest casualty figures demonstrate why action is needed. Young drivers make up a relatively small proportion of licence holders, yet they and their passengers remain disproportionately represented in deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

“We welcomed the renewed focus on young driver safety in the Government’s Road Safety Strategy in January, including the proposed minimum learning period. However, we were disappointed it did not go further and include peer-age passenger limitations for newly qualified young drivers.

“The AA Charitable Trust’s central call remains a simple six-month restriction on peer-age passengers for newly qualified drivers under 21. We have asked the UK Transport Secretary and Road Safety Minister to review Northern Ireland’s move into GDL with the hope it will pave the way for similar life-saving measures elsewhere in the UK.”

Mark Born, Head of Training at AA Driving School, said: “Improving the safety of new drivers starts well before the day of their practical test. Learners benefit from gaining experience across different roads, conditions and situations so they are better prepared for driving independently.

“A structured learning programme can give pupils, instructors and parents a clearer framework for building that experience rather than simply focusing on getting someone ready to pass their test.

“Time alone is not a measure of driving competence, so any minimum learning period needs to form part of a wider approach which focuses on the skills and experience a learner develops.

“Any changes also need to be practical, affordable and flexible for learners and their families.”

AA Driving School works with road safety initiative The Honest Truth to give learners education beyond the practical driving test, helping them understand and manage the risks they may face once driving independently.

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*Yonder received 12,441 responses to the AA online survey between 10 and 16 September 2026.

Questions and Answers

What is Graduated Driver Licensing?

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is an approach designed to help new drivers gain experience while reducing their exposure to higher-risk situations during the early stages of driving independently. Measures can include minimum learning periods, structured learning programmes, restrictions on carrying young passengers and requirements for newly qualified drivers to display identifying plates.

What is changing for learner and newly qualified drivers in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland is introducing a Graduated Driver Licensing system which includes a six-month minimum learning period, completion of a training syllabus and logbook before the practical driving test, and a two-year new-driver period during which R plates must be displayed.

For newly qualified drivers under 24, there will also be restrictions on carrying young passengers during the first six months after passing.

What are the new passenger restrictions for young drivers in Northern Ireland?

During the first six months after passing their test, newly qualified drivers under 24 may carry no more than one passenger aged 14 to 20 between 11pm and 6am.

There are exemptions for immediate family members and where an appropriately qualified accompanying driver is present.

Is the practical driving test changing in Northern Ireland?

Yes. From 1 April 2027, the practical driving test in Northern Ireland will include a longer independent-driving section and the use of sat nav.

Do drivers support Graduated Driving Licence-style measures across the rest of the UK?

An AA survey found that 77% would support measures similar to Northern Ireland’s Graduated Driver Licensing system being introduced across the rest of the UK.

How many drivers support passenger restrictions for newly qualified young drivers?

More than two-thirds (68%) would support a peer-age passenger restriction for newly qualified young drivers in Great Britain.

Peer-age passenger restrictions were the most popular of the individual measures included in the AA survey.

What other measures for new drivers have public support?

The AA survey found that 56% support a special plate identifying young newly qualified drivers as new drivers, while 53% support a structured learning programme covering a range of roads and driving conditions.

Two-fifths (39%) support requiring learners to complete a minimum learning period before taking their practical driving test.

Why is The AA calling for changes for young drivers?

Department for Transport figures show that drivers aged 17 to 24 accounted for 6.3% of full driving licence holders in 2025 but 19% of car-driver fatalities in Great Britain.

Collisions involving at least one 17-to-24-year-old car driver resulted in 269 deaths and 4,466 serious injuries among road users during 2025.

Are young passengers particularly at risk?

Department for Transport figures show that between 2021 and 2025, people aged 16 to 24 accounted for 85% of passenger fatalities and 81% of passengers killed or seriously injured while travelling in cars driven by a young driver.

What Graduated Driving Licence measures does The AA support?

The AA supports a six-month peer-passenger restriction for newly qualified drivers under 21, alongside a mandatory learning logbook and a minimum learning period.

What passenger restriction is The AA calling for?

The AA Charitable Trust is calling for a six-month restriction on peer-age passengers for newly qualified drivers under 21.

It has asked the UK Transport Secretary and Road Safety Minister to review Northern Ireland’s introduction of Graduated Driver Licensing and consider similar measures elsewhere in the UK.

Does The AA support a minimum learning period?

Yes. The AA supports a minimum learning period alongside a mandatory logbook and structured approach to learning.

AA Driving School says time alone should not be treated as a measure of driving competence. Any minimum period should form part of a wider approach focused on the skills and experience learners develop before driving independently.

Why does AA Driving School support structured learning?

AA Driving School says learners benefit from gaining experience across different types of roads, driving conditions and situations before taking their practical test.

A structured learning programme could provide pupils, instructors and parents with a clearer framework for building that experience rather than focusing solely on preparing someone to pass the practical test.

What does AA Driving School say about the cost of changes?

AA Driving School says any changes to the learning-to-drive system need to be practical, affordable and flexible for learners and their families.

What is The Honest Truth?

The Honest Truth is a road safety initiative which works with AA Driving School to provide learners with education beyond the practical driving test. It helps learners understand and manage risks they may face once they begin driving independently.