The Labour government has unveiled what it calls an "ambitious" new Road Safety Strategy for England, introducing a key new rule for learner drivers. However, road safety campaigners, including a bereaved mother, have warned the measures "don't go far enough" to protect young drivers and other road users.
Campaigners Demand Stricter Graduated Driving Licences
The announcement of the strategy has brought renewed calls for the introduction of a Graduated Driving Licence (GDL) system. Crystal Owen, a prominent road safety campaigner, has been demanding such a scheme since 2023, following the tragic death of her 17-year-old son, Harvey, in North Wales.
Harvey lost his life in an accident where an inexperienced driver took a corner too quickly during adverse weather conditions. While Ms Owen acknowledged the new strategy as a "step forward", she told the BBC that the government was "missing a golden opportunity" by not implementing a full GDL.
Her sentiments were echoed by Sharron Huddleston, who spoke to BBC Breakfast. "I don't think it goes far enough," she stated. "The element that I am passionate about of a Graduated Driving Licence is the passenger safety precaution, and that's the element that I would have liked to have seen addressed in the Strategy."
What Does the New Strategy Propose?
The government's proposed measures, announced on 07 January 2026, focus on a key change for new drivers. The central policy is a requirement for learner drivers to face a minimum learning period of up to six months between sitting their theory test and their practical driving test.
This aims to address concerns that some young drivers, particularly 17-year-olds, are passing their tests within a matter of weeks, potentially without sufficient on-road experience. Huddleston noted this limited period was "a good thing".
Legal and Safety Experts Weigh In
Matthew Tomlinson, Head of Serious Injury (North) at law firm Slater and Gordon, welcomed the focus on road safety. "All too often, we see the devastation caused to families by the consequences of road collisions and unsafe driving," he said.
He expressed support for proposals targeting key age groups of concern and emphasised that "all options around improving road safety should continue to be explored on an ongoing basis, to ensure no stone is left unturned in protecting all road users."
Despite the criticism that the strategy is too limited, campaigners like Crystal Owen did offer some praise, noting it was "really good news that young drivers are being looked at in the Strategy." The debate now centres on whether the government will go further in the future to implement the passenger and other restrictions that form part of a comprehensive Graduated Driving Licence system.
