More than two-thirds of public back young driver restrictions

Two-thirds of the public back driving restrictions on young drivers.

An Ipsos MORI survey for the RAC Foundation found that 68% of adults supported, in principle, the introduction of graduated licensing for drivers under the age of 24 and those who had just passed their test.

Sixty-six per cent backed limits on the number of passengers newly qualified young drivers could carry, while 61% gave their support to driving restrictions between 12am and 5am.

Among the young drivers polled, 41% supported graduated licensing, while 31% were opposed to it.

Graduated licensing would see limited restrictions on newly qualified young drivers for a period of typically 12 months, to reduce their exposure to risk as they gain experience on the road.

Using the experience of other countries where graduated licensing had been adopted, a previous RAC Foundation study concluded 4,500 fewer people would be injured each year if such a system was introduced in the UK.

This figure included about 430 people who would otherwise have been killed or seriously injured.

Nearly one in eight of all road casualties are hurt or killed in collisions involving a car driver aged 17-19. This age group makes up less than one in sixty of all licensed drivers, the RAC added.

The industry is currently waiting to hear from the government on the delayed green paper on young driver reforms that was expected at the end of 2013.

The reforms are aimed at reducing the number of young motorists that are injured on the UK’s roads.

The changes could include lowering the age at which young motorists can learn to drive to extending the learning period, as well as restrictions on driving times and the number of passengers a young motorist can carry.