The AA has condemned the UK government’s decision not to tighten passenger rules for new young drivers, calling it a “major oversight” in its upcoming overhaul of driving laws. The motoring group argues that failing to introduce passenger limits for newly qualified motorists under 21 ignores clear evidence that carrying same‑age friends massively increases crash risk.
What the government has decided
The Department for Transport has confirmed there are currently no plans to introduce a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system or restrict who young, newly qualified drivers can carry as passengers. Ministers say they recognise that young people are disproportionately involved in serious collisions but are looking instead at a broader road‑safety strategy rather than specific passenger bans.
This stance comes despite previous reviews of GDL and repeated calls from safety campaigners, coroners and motoring bodies after high‑profile crashes involving cars full of teenagers. The government has argued in the past that strict GDL rules could hinder young people’s access to work, education and social activities, particularly in rural areas with limited public transport.
Why the AA is criticising the move
The AA says the “missing element” in the planned shake‑up of driving laws is any measure to limit peer‑aged passengers in the first months after a young driver passes their test. It points to data showing that around a quarter of road deaths involve at least one young driver, and that 17‑ to 24‑year‑old males are among the most likely to be killed or seriously injured in crashes.
Research cited by road‑safety charity Brake and others shows that young drivers are far more likely to speed, take risks or be distracted when accompanied by friends of a similar age, compared with driving alone or with older adults. The AA argues that almost every weekend brings another fatal crash involving a car full of teenagers, and that simple passenger restrictions could save lives.
What the AA wants instead
The AA is backing a GDL model that would:
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Ban drivers under 21 from carrying passengers of a similar age for six months after passing their test, unless a supervising older adult is in the car.
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Require new drivers in this period to display a special “G” (graduate) plate to help police enforce the rules.
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Impose six penalty points for not wearing a seatbelt during the first six months, effectively risking licence loss for a single serious breach.
The AA and other supporters say similar GDL systems used in countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia and Sweden have significantly cut young‑driver deaths and serious injuries. Internal AA analysis suggests that introducing GDL in the UK could prevent dozens of deaths and hundreds of serious injuries each year among young drivers and their passengers.
What this means for young drivers and parents
For now, there will be no legal limit on how many peer‑aged passengers a new UK driver can carry, or on driving at night, once they have passed the standard test. The AA is therefore urging parents and young motorists to adopt voluntary “family rules,” such as avoiding late‑night trips with friends and limiting passenger numbers in the first six to twelve months.
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Safety groups are also stepping up awareness campaigns warning of the dangers of driving with a car full of friends soon after getting a licence, even if the law does not yet restrict it. The AA says it will continue to lobby the Transport Secretary and MPs to revisit passenger laws as part of any new road‑safety strategy, arguing that a short‑term restriction is “a small price to pay” for saving young lives.
