Northern Ireland will introduce a Graduated Driving Licence (GDL) scheme from October 1, 2026, bringing significant changes for learner and newly qualified drivers, including a ban on carrying multiple young passengers at night for those under 24. The scheme aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries among young motorists, who are disproportionately involved in collisions.
Key changes under the new scheme
Under the GDL, learner drivers will be required to complete a Mandatory Minimum Learning Period (MMLP) of six months before they can sit their driving test. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) confirmed it will remove the current 45mph speed restriction for learners and newly qualified drivers, while extending the post-test restricted period from its previous duration to 24 months.
New night-time passenger restrictions will apply to drivers under the age of 24—those born after 2002—for the first six months after passing their test. Between 11pm and 6am, they will be limited to carrying no more than one passenger aged between 13 and 20 years old.
Official reaction and safety rationale
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the changes were "aimed at young drivers who are sadly most likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads." She highlighted that in 2024, 164 people were killed or seriously injured in Northern Ireland in crashes caused by a driver aged between 17 and 23. "This age group of drivers account for 24% of fatal or serious collisions despite holding just 8% of licences," she added.
Pat Delaney, director of operations at the Driver and Vehicle Agency Northern Ireland (DVANI), said the new measures would affect anyone who gets a provisional driving licence from October 1. He said the overall aim was to "improve road safety" for young people.
Police support and public reaction
A senior Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer, Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, welcomed the scheme and said he wished it could be introduced immediately. "Young people who are 17, 18 and new drivers regardless of what age, they don't recognise the risk the way perhaps some of us here a little bit older do," he said. "So I absolutely welcome this graduated response, some restrictions in terms of who they can carry, times of day they can travel and things like that because we've got to bring our new drivers on a slower journey to allow them to learn how to drive on the roads."
Donaldson noted that similar approaches are used in Scandinavia, "and they have far safer roads than we have, so we've got to learn from them and we've got to bring this in."
Some young people who spoke to BBC News NI gave a mixed reaction to the reforms, with one saying they were "not looking forward to the changes." The scheme will apply to all new provisional licence holders from October 1, 2026, marking a significant shift in how young drivers are trained and licensed in Northern Ireland.
