The Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) joined Sky News presenter, Sarah-Jane Mee, to discuss Graduated Driving Licences (GDLs) and the urgent need to protect young drivers.
Broadcast on The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee, the first segment – “Campaign groups call for tougher licensing laws for new drivers” – featured interviews with The SERP’s Partnership Manager, Will Cubbin, who outlined the data highlighting the risks young drivers face and how voluntary GDLs can work as a practical solution to families right now.
This featured alongside powerful testimonies from bereaved parents Sharron Huddleston and Dr Ian Greenwood, who both tragically lost their daughters in crashes involving young drivers. Together, they are calling for meaningful change to protect more lives on our roads.
The second segment – “Calls for ‘irresponsible’ UK government to follow Canada’s lead on rules for young drivers” – saw the Sky News team travel to Canada to explore how GDL has been successfully implemented, with the number of 16-19 year olds dying on the country’s roads having fallen by 83% over the last five years. There, restrictions on high-risk driving conditions—such as night-time journeys and carrying young passengers—have led to a dramatic reduction in young driver collisions.
What is a GDL?
A GDL is a phased approach to learning to drive, designed to give new drivers time to gain experience under lower-risk conditions. It typically involves a minimum learning period before the practical test, followed by temporary restrictions—such as driving curfews or limits on carrying young passengers—until drivers have gained more experience. GDL schemes are already in place in countries such as Canada, where they have been shown to reduce young driver fatalities by up to 40%. While GDL is not currently implemented in the UK, growing public and expert support is putting pressure on policymakers to consider its introduction.
Local Action in Essex
While GDL is a national policy decision, the SERP is taking action locally to reduce young driver collisions through targeted education, enforcement, and awareness campaigns. The #MySmallChange campaign encourages young drivers to make life-saving choices, such as avoiding distractions, resisting peer pressure, and managing speed responsibly. The Partnership also delivers education in schools and colleges, helping young people understand and manage risks, before they even pass their driving test. In addition, a strong enforcement presence from partners, Essex Police, tackles high-risk behaviours such as speeding, mobile phone use, and drink and drug driving.
The SERP is making sure families understand they don’t need to wait for legislation change to benefit from the principles of GDL. Voluntarily restricting passengers and night time driving can significantly reduce the risk of serious or fatal collisions. Parents and guardians can support their young drivers by setting boundaries, encouraging safe driving habits, and leading by example.
The Data
Evidence from countries where GDL has been introduced shows a reduction in young driver fatalities by up to 40%. The system allows young drivers to gain experience independently, while avoiding the highest-risk situations, such as driving at night or carrying passengers of a similar age. Data for Essex highlights these risks, with 43% of collisions involving 16–25-year-old car occupants occurring between 9pm and 4am at night, compared to 16% of drivers over 25. Additionally, 62% of passengers injured in cars driven by young drivers were close in age to the driver.
The SERP remains committed to working towards Vision Zero – a future where no one is killed or seriously injured on Essex roads.
For more information on how you can support young drivers, visit: www.saferessexroads.org/young-drivers
