Bereaved families and experts welcome Government road safety strategy but say more is needed for young drivers
- Rebecca Morris
- Jan 15
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 16
Bereaved families and road safety experts have welcomed the publication of the Government’s long-awaited Road Safety Strategy, but say it does not go far enough to protect young drivers.
Published on 7 January - the first national road safety strategy in 14 years - the document has been closely examined over the last week by families, campaigners and professionals across the UK. Many have welcomed the strategy’s overall ambition, including its emphasis on the Safe System approach, recognition of the disproportionate risk faced by young and newly qualified drivers and proposals for a three or six-month minimum learning period between the theory and practical tests.
The strategy also sets a target to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035, with a specific 70% reduction target for children under 16. But many campaigners say those goals cannot be met without far stronger action to address the risks faced by young and newly qualified drivers, who are disproportionately involved in road crashes. In Britain, 17 to 24-year-olds are involved in almost a quarter of fatal and serious injury crashes. In 2024 alone, nearly 5,000 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions involving at least one young driver - including pedestrians, cyclists and other road users with no connection to the driver.
Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) systems, already in place across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and much of the United States, introduce time-limited safeguards such as carrying no peer-aged passengers for a short period and night-time limits while experience develops. Evaluations consistently show reductions in deaths and serious injuries of up to 40%.
Bereaved parents: ‘This doesn’t go far enough’
Since the release of the strategy, bereaved parents from across the UK have been speaking publicly in response to it. Families have shared their experiences across national and local media, including Sky News, BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain and regional outlets.
Ian Greenwood, whose 12-year-old daughter, Alice, was killed in 2008 when a car driven by a young speeding driver collided with the family’s vehicle, said: “Having waited for 15 years for a new road safety strategy, I am excited we have a plan which aims to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on Britain's roads by 65% - this has to be welcomed. However, one stand out weakness is the lack of ambition to reduce the number of people killed or injured in young driver collisions: 50% of whom are not even in the young driver’s car.
He added: "All international evidence points to licensing reform through improvements through learning, testing and post test support, with interventions which help the young driver manage stressful and risky circumstances post test the best to reduce KSIs. This is a missed opportunity and will only go part way to tackle the 24% KSIs from young driver collisions.”
Kelly Kennard, whose daughter, Laionie, was killed aged 18, told the Bournemouth Echo: “Driving a car is like handling a weapon. Young people don’t fully understand the risks or consequences - but other people pay the price. Six months’ experience isn’t enough. They should be banning new drivers from carrying passengers for a period, making telematics mandatory and stopping them from driving powerful cars.”
Bridget Lucas, whose son Lawrence was 22 when he was killed, said the strategy represented a missed opportunity. She told the BBC: "I’m not convinced these measures will meet the targets they’re talking about - especially for younger drivers. A driver needs time to build skills without the distraction of peers. In Lawrence’s name, I’m not going to give up on this.”
Crystal Owen, whose son Harvey was killed aged 17, said she welcomed any recognition of the issue, but believed the response lacked ambition. “Anything that improves road safety is a step forward,” she said. “But this is not enough. The Government is missing a golden opportunity.”
Naomi Crane, from Hertfordshire, whose 19-year-old son, Sonny, was killed in a crash, said the proposals were unlikely to prevent other families enduring the devastation she now lives with. She told Greatest Hits Radio: “I just don’t think it’s enough of a change. I’m hoping it will save some lives, but will it save the majority? Probably not. When you hand your children a car at 17, you’re handing them a killing machine. These deaths are preventable. So why aren’t we doing something?”
Sharron Huddleston, whose daughter, Caitlin, was killed aged 18, said limiting the learning period alone would not protect young people once they were driving independently. She told BBC Breakfast: “It’s right that young drivers are being addressed. But it doesn’t go far enough. We’re seeing 17-year-olds pass their test in weeks and then they’re straight on the roads.”
Chris and Nicole Taylor, whose daughter, Rebecca, was killed aged 18, told Sky News the Government had misunderstood what families were asking for. Nicole said: “If the Government thinks this is enough for us - it’s not enough. There’s a lot more that should have been done and can be done.”
Chris added: “Having a longer learning period would be a good idea. But at some point young drivers have to go out on their own - and that’s exactly when they need protection.”
Jane Radford, whose son Will was killed just a month after passing his test, told BBC Radio Sussex: “As a mum of a 17-year-old killed only a month after passing his test, I do feel really let down by the detail in this road strategy. Many more will lose their lives or be seriously injured as a result of this lack of action, when they could be saved.”
Experts and leaders welcome the strategy and set out next steps
Road safety experts and national organisations have responded positively to the long-awaited strategy and expressed their readiness to support further progress: Jamie Hassall, Executive Director at the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said: “Evidence from around the world shows that a progressive licensing system - with minimum learning periods, stronger training and testing, and targeted restrictions - can reduce casualties by 20-40%. Public backing for reform is strong: recent research from the Road Safety Trust shows that 72% of British adults support a phased licensing system. While the Government has reservations about adopting the full suite of measures immediately, we will continue to advocate for a comprehensive review of the licensing and testing regime as Parliament considers next steps."
Alison Lowe OBE, Chair of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Partnership and the region’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said risk reduction must be central to reform. She said: “If we are serious about saving young lives, risk reduction must sit at the heart of reform, informed by evidence and the voices of bereaved families. Whilst our calls for Graduated Driving Licences have not been realised, we will continue to push for change, as we know this proven system would unquestionably save lives.”
Dr Elizabeth Box, Research Director at the RAC Foundation, said: “While we would have liked to see stronger measures for young drivers, it is positive that the new strategy recognises that inexperience is a risk factor we can design for, rather than something young people should be blamed for. Minimum learning periods and zero-alcohol limits are sensible first steps that help prepare young drivers for safer independent driving and will hopefully provide a foundation for further graduated protections in future.”
Ross Moorlock, chief executive of Brake, the road safety charity, said the absence of firm commitments on young driver risk was a major concern. He said: “While we are pleased to see the Government opening consultations about a minimum learning period for learner drivers, we are particularly concerned that they have not made a firm commitment to additional measures to address young driver risk. There is clear and undeniable evidence from other countries that strengthening the licensing system would be effective.”
David Allen, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria welcomed the strategy, but said it should go further. He said: “We’ve seen the devastation serious crashes can have, especially with younger drivers who lose their lives before they even have the chance to live. This is a starting point. I would like to see the strategy develop further to include graduated driving licences in the near future.”
Philip Seccombe, Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire, welcomed the new strategy, but said: "I believe that the Government can, and must, go further to protect some of the most vulnerable people on our roads - young and newly qualified drivers. I know the lack of commitment to implementing Progressive Driving Licences for young drivers will come as a significant disappointment to the bereaved families who have long been campaigning for such measures to come into place and protect future young drivers.”
Joy Allen, Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham and Darlington, said the strategy fell short at the most dangerous point in a young driver’s journey. She said: “Evidence is clear that the greatest danger comes in the early months after passing a test, yet there is no firm commitment to comprehensive graduated licensing, such as night-time restrictions, passenger limits or stronger safeguards around alcohol and drug driving."
Dr Nick Reed, a leading transportation research expert, said: "Whilst international evidence suggests there is more we could do to protect young drivers than is currently proposed, we have a good starting point for action and the ambitious targets for casualty reduction are likely to require strengthening of a range of measures from across the Safe System that will help to protect young drivers. I look forward to collaborating with this group and others in delivering this safety improvement."
Chief Fire Officer Dan Quin, road safety lead at the National Fire Chiefs' Council, said: “We particularly welcome the introduction of measures that strengthen young driver safety, including a consultation on a minimum learning period, although we would like to see the Government introduce greater protections for these vulnerable road users.”
James Gibson, Executive Director at Road Safety GB, said: “We welcome the publication of the Road Safety Strategy. The casualty reduction targets and the planned national Road Safety Board should provide focus and accountability. It’s really important for organisations and individuals to contribute to the consultation regarding introducing a minimum learning period, and to put forward why vital policy changes should be made to improve young and novice driver safety.”
Edmund King, President of the AA, said it was positive that the Government had proposed a minimum learning period, but added: “While this is positive, we feel the government has missed the opportunity to introduce peer age passenger restrictions for new drivers.”
Adrian Harding, Director of the Young Driver Foundation, welcomed the publication of the Road Safety Strategy, calling it a 'vital step forward.' He added: "However, to truly embed safer behaviour, we feel the strategy could go further by formally integrating pre-17 road safety education and structured early skills development. This would equip young people with hazard awareness before they ever sit in a driver’s seat, strengthening the lifelong learning approach the strategy champions."
We remain united - and we will not stop
Families and experts say they remain united in their call for meaningful reform and are keen to work constructively with Government as the strategy is developed further. They say the evidence is clear on what works to protect young drivers and stand ready to support changes that will save lives, reduce harm and prevent other families from experiencing the devastation they now live with.
Responding to the Government's Consultation
The Department for Transport's 'Open consultation: Introducing a minimum learning period for learner drivers' is seeking views on introducing a minimum time period between passing a theory test and taking a practical driving test. The consultation covers driving tests taken for a category B licence, the standard licence used to operate a car.
Currently, a learner driver may apply for a practical driving test as soon as they get a provisional licence and pass the theory test.
The consultation closes at 23:59 on March 31, 2026.
