In an effort to reduce accidents and fatalities among young drivers, many countries are implementing new regulations that include the use of 'G' plates and stricter restrictions. These measures aim to provide novice drivers with additional support and guidance during their early years behind the wheel. Young, inexperienced drivers should be required to display a ‘G’ plate and not be allowed to carry peer-age passengers for the first six months after passing their test, says the AA.

The AA’s chief executive, Jakob Pfaudler, said, “Not only is this a tragic waste of life, but it contributes to the burden of high insurance premiums for young drivers. These premiums should fall when there is evidence of a reduction of young drivers and passengers killed and seriously injured. Graduated driver licensing has been proven in other countries to significantly reduce road deaths and serious injuries. We are calling on the transport secretary to make simple, pragmatic changes to the licensing process so young people are better protected in their first few months of independent driving.”

Crystal Owen's 17-year-old son Harvey died in a car crash in November 2023 along with three of his friends while on a camping trip in Gwynedd, north Wales. Under the Conservative government, the DFT announced in July 2019 that it was considering introducing GDL in England, but the assessment was halted in autumn 2020, partly because of the potential impact on young people’s employment. The most popular element of the AA’s proposal, according to an online survey of 10,566 of its members, was passenger restrictions, with 33% of respondents saying they would support them. Similar measures - known as graduated driving licensing (GDL) - are already in place in countries including the US, Canada, Australia and Sweden. If it were brought in across the UK, it would mean young drivers marking their vehicles with G plates - with a failure to display them punishable with three points on their license.

The AA’s stance on limiting under-21 passengers for new drivers highlights a crucial aspect of road safety. By acknowledging the risks associated with young drivers and their passengers, we can take proactive steps to reduce accidents and enhance safety on the roads. As discussions continue, it is essential for stakeholders, including parents, educators, and lawmakers, to collaborate in fostering a safer driving environment for young individuals.