UK campaign history
The campaign to protect young, novice drivers has been shaped by decades of advocacy, research and personal loss.
This timeline charts the growing support for safer licensing laws - from early family-led campaigns to widespread support from national organisations - all with one aim: to protect young drivers and save lives.
1980s
The roots of the GDL campaign
Families have been calling for Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) since the 1980s. In 1986, Patsy and Robbin Suffield (pictured) began campaigning after their son Neil, 18, was killed in a crash that also claimed the lives of five friends and seriously injured another. Two years later, Vicki Stone began her campaign after her daughter Kate, 17, was killed. Her group helped change the law on who can supervise learner drivers and continued to push for GDL. These early voices laid the foundations for the many other families who have campaigned since.
February 2018
Prime Minister pledges to explore GDL
Then Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to explore the introduction of a Graduated Driving Licensing scheme for young drivers, during Prime Minister’s Questions.
October 2022
RAC Foundation: GDL improves safety without limiting freedom
An RAC Foundation study concluded that Graduated Driving Licensing could improve road safety while having minimal negative impact on access to work, education or social life for new drivers.
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July 2023
Brake research shows public support for GDL
Research carried out by Brake and AXA UK revealed that 63% of people support a Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) system to improve safety for young and newly qualified drivers.
April 2024
Bereaved families join forces to protect young drivers
Bereaved families formed Forget-me-not Families Uniting, a new group calling for Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) to protect young drivers. After years of campaigning alone, they launched together on BBC Breakfast with a united call for change.
May 2024
Kim Leadbeater MP’s licensing reform bill
Kim Leadbeater MP presented a Ten Minute Rule Bill in the House of Commons on Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (New Drivers) - The Bill was unopposed. It was scheduled for a second reading on 17 May 2024. However, it did not progress beyond the first reading.
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Image: Kim Leadbeater ©House of Commons/Roger Harris
May 2024
PACTS calls for GDL as a national road safety priority
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) included Graduated Driving Licensing as one of four strategic priorities in its road safety manifesto ahead of the 2024 general election.
June 2024
Stronger together: Families' first in-person meeting
Members of Forget-me-not Families Uniting, now consisting of over 100 parents, met in person for the first time. Their meeting and campaign were featured again on BBC Breakfast.
October 2024
AA findings: GDL could save 58 lives each year
The AA published new analysis showing that a British Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) system could save 58 lives every year, released as part of its Mini Manifesto on GDL.
October 2024
RAC Foundation: Licensing reforms could save 44 lives a year
The RAC Foundation published its 'Safe Mobility for Young People' proposal, calling for targeted licensing reforms to reduce young driver crashes. It estimates the changes could save up to 44 lives and prevent over 500 serious injuries each year, while affecting fewer than 1.5% of drivers.
October 2024
National Police Chiefs' Council reaffirms support for GDL
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for roads policing, reaffirmed her support for a form of Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) in Britain, in an interview with BBC Breakfast.
November 2024
40+ organisations urge GDL action in letter to Minister
A letter coordinated by RoadPeace and signed by over 40 organisations was presented to Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood MP at the National Road Safety Conference 2024. It urged Government action on GDL.
December 2024
National Fire Chiefs' Council calls for GDL
The National Fire Chiefs' Council (NFCC) called for greater action to tackle road deaths and injuries, which included the introduction of a Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) system in Britain.
January 2025
GDL not under consideration, Minister confirms in debate
A Westminster Hall debate on young driver safety was led by Julia Buckley MP. Many bereaved families attended. During the debate, Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed that GDL was not currently under consideration.
February 2025
More than 70 siblings sign letter to PM calling for GDL
Seventy-one siblings of young people killed in crashes involving novice drivers signed a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, calling for Graduated Driving Licensing to help prevent further tragedies.
One of those siblings was Mia Pullen, pictured with her younger brother, Elliot, who was killed in a collision along with two other teenage friends, caused by a young novice driver.
March 2025
100,000 sign Crystal Owen’s petition for Graduated Licensing
Crystal Owen’s petition calling for a Graduated Driving Licensing system in memory of her 17-year-old son Harvey (pictured), reached 100,000 signatures just six months after launching.
April 2025
Crystal Owen delivers petition to Downing Street
Crystal Owen delivered her petition to 10 Downing Street, supported by other members of Forget-me-not Families Uniting. Together, they called for urgent government action on young driver safety.
April 2025
Sky News highlights UK lag on young driver safety
A Sky News report featured international expert commentary from Canada, where GDL has been in place for years. Contributors expressed surprise that the UK has yet to adopt a similar system.
