Britons back tougher rules on new drivers

The majority of motorists would back additional restrictions on young and newly qualified drivers according to a new survey.

The finding comes after motoring experts at Quotezone.co.uk questioned Britons on tougher driving restrictions due to come into force in Northern Ireland next month, and whether they should be implemented across the UK – with 85% saying they'd be keen to see them applied across the country. 

The Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) system is due to come into effect in Northern Ireland on 1st October, introducing a series of tougher rules and restrictions designed to reduce incidents on our roads and help new and young drivers build experience.*

Out of those questioned, 73% were in favour of new drivers facing additional restrictions during their first two years of driving, with a further 10% believing it should be for longer than just two years.

This comes as harrowing government statistics show young male car drivers aged 17-24 are around four times as likely to be killed or seriously injured compared with all car drivers aged 25 or over. Around a fifth of all killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties from collisions involving cars were in collisions which involved a young car driver.**

In the UK, new drivers are on the up, with a surge of 11.7% year on year - that's over a million learners (1,000,043) having passed their driving test between April 2025 and March 2026.***

The GDL system is designed to help protect these new drivers and other road users. The rules are for anyone applying for a provisional licence and whilst it is a requirement for learners of all ages, it’s primarily aimed at young drivers up to 23 years old. 

The system will see learners complete at least six months of supervised driving before they take their test, with a mandatory logbook and structured training programme with an instructor.

Once they’ve passed their test, drivers under 24 in Northern Ireland will face a six-month night-time restriction, meaning they can only have one passenger between the ages of 14 - 20 between 11pm and 6am.

However, immediate family are exempt and it doesn’t apply if there's a qualified driver aged over 21 with at least three years’ experience in the front seat.

The restricted period where drivers are required to display R plates will also increase from 12 months to 24 months.

Other changes include scrapping the 45mph speed limit for L plate and new drivers**** and allowing learners to drive on motorways with an instructor - to help gain practical experience of the requirements they will need as soon as they pass their test.*****

When questioned on the restrictions they believed would be most effective, almost a third of respondents, 30%, said a longer probationary period for new drivers, with 28% agreeing on restrictions for carrying passengers.

Just 4% believed none of the new restrictions would improve road safety amongst new drivers.

Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk said: “It’s clear from our research that Britons clearly support tougher measures to help new and young drivers gain experience safely, to help protect themselves and others on the roads. There’s a strong indication that motorists do not believe current provisions go far enough.

“The new Graduated Driving Licensing system in Northern Ireland does introduce a much more structured and practical approach to learning, highlighting key areas for improvement which are known problem areas. A longer supervised learning period, a detailed logbook and night-time passenger restrictions should all lead to positive change and give drivers more time and opportunity to practice high-risk aspects of driving. It’s a sensible step forward that hopefully other UK regions will replicate soon.

"Our survey shows drivers believe a longer probationary period and restrictions on carrying passengers are seen as the changes with the most potential, which mirrors what we're seeing in Northern Ireland's approach. With over a million learners passing their test in the past year alone, implementing these additional safety precautions is crucial.

"Ultimately, any measure that helps new drivers build confidence and experience gradually with less distractions, is a positive move forward for road safety across the UK and something we hope will help towards a reduction in car insurance premiums for young drivers."