Ministers are expected to resist calls for a major overhaul of driving qualifications when they unveil their latest plans to improve road safety.
Participants argued that replacing the UK’s current driving test regime could prevent thousands of injuries and deaths on the nation’s roads every year.
The existing one-and-done system means that newly qualified drivers face the same road rules as more experienced drivers as soon as they pass their test.
However, a growing number of experts are calling for Britain to introduce a so-called “progressive” or “graduated” system, similar to those used in countries such as Australia and the Republic of Ireland, which impose stricter restrictions on new drivers.
The AA estimated that such a chance could reduce the annual number of people injured or killed in incidents by up to two-fifths.
Earlier this month Simon Foster, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the West Midlands, became the latest person to call on the Government to make changes, calling progressive driving licenses “proven, proportionate and urgently needed”.
However, transport chiefs are expected to prioritize “other measures” when the government publishes its upcoming Road Safety Strategy.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport told Yahoo News in response to Foster’s comments: “Whilst we don’t take expired driving licenses into account, we absolutely recognize that young people are disproportionately the victims of tragic incidents on our roads and we continue to address this through our THINK! campaign.
“We are considering further measures to tackle this problem and protect young drivers as part of our future road safety strategy – the first in over a decade.”
Until 2018, drivers were only allowed on British motorways after passing the tests. (Getty Images)
What is a “graduated driver’s license”?
Currently, all drivers in England, Wales or Scotland are subject to the same rules, whether it’s been days or decades since they passed their practical driving test.
Newly qualified drivers can choose to display a green ‘P Plate’ if they wish to indicate their inexperience to other road users.
In Northern Ireland, an amber ‘R Plate’ must be displayed for the first 12 months after qualifying and speed restrictions apply.
While a “graduated” or “progressive” driver’s license could take many forms, it would likely have restrictions such as the maximum speed, the number of passengers and the types of roads they can drive on.
These would be gradually raised based on factors such as age, driving proficiency and driving experience.
This has been backed by the AA, which believes it could reduce the number of serious accidents involving young drivers.
Last year, the organisation’s chairman, Edmund King, said: “The AA believes we need a gradual learning system with a logbook where all learners have to demonstrate their skills on all types of road and, crucially, rural roads, where 71% of new driver fatalities occur and in different weather conditions and at different times of the day or night.”
Drivers in the Republic of Ireland, one of several countries that have already introduced progressive driving licences, must display ‘N plates’ for two years after passing their tests. (Getty)
Which countries already use graduated driving licenses?
The Republic of Ireland requires drivers to complete a two-year probationary period during which they must display ‘N plates’ and obey lower drink drive limits than experienced road users.
In Australia, new drivers are prohibited from driving between certain hours at night and have limitations on the number of passengers they can carry.
New Zealand drivers go through a three-stage process, offering ‘learner’, ‘restricted’ and ‘full’ licences.
What happens next?
The government has reportedly ruled out any immediate prospect of overhauling driving license rules in its forthcoming Road Safety Strategy, saying instead it will focus on “other measures” to improve motorway safety.
This could include tougher penalties for driving without insurance or not wearing a seat belt.
The new research also suggested a decline in attitudes towards drink driving among young people.
The policy is expected to run until 2030, suggesting that graduated or progressive licenses are unlikely to be considered before then.
The strategy was expected to be published in the autumn, but it is not yet known when the policy is likely to be launched.
It has been suggested that progressive driving licenses could lead to lower insurance premiums as well as improving road safety. (PA)
Who supports it?
The approach has broad support.
In the summer of 2025, the Protect Young Drivers campaign group was launched, a coalition of MPs, emergency services, insurers, academics, charities, campaigners and bereaved families.
Organizations that have subscribed to the politically neutral, evidence-based approach include the National Council of Chief Police Officers, the National Council of Chief Fire Officers, the RAC, the AA, Brake, RoadPeace and IAM RoadSmart.
Motoring organization the AA has previously backed graduated driving licences, with its chairman Edmund King saying: “We owe it to the next generation to introduce positive measures to help give them healthy and prosperous lives.”
The RAC also said it believes this could “help save lives on the country’s roads”.
It has also been backed by victims’ charities such as Brake, which claimed such a scheme could save 4,471 victims and £224m every year, just based on the impact it could have on 17-19 year old drivers.
In November 2025, the family of Josh Atkins, who died in a car accident when he was 17, spoke about the need for a new system.
Corey Owen Cooper was jailed for five years for causing Atkins’ death by dangerous driving after causing the crash the day after he passed his driving test.
Gabe Wiggett, Josh Atkins’ aunt Claire Chapman and South Yorkshire Police Inspector Kieran Frain outside Sheffield Crown Court where Corey Owen Cooper was sentenced earlier this year. (PA)
His family called for Britain to adopt a graduated driving license system. “Young and inexperienced drivers need more support, more education and more responsibility before they are given full driving license privileges,” they said in a statement after Cooper’s sentencing.
“It’s not about punishment, it’s about prevention. If there was such a system, Josh would still be with us today, still living life.”
The policy also appears to have clear public support, with a YouGov poll of more than 7,000 people showing a clear majority in favour.
However, the government has so far refused to consider such a scheme, with Lilian Greenwood, the local transport minister, saying in a House of Commons debate earlier this year that she hoped to improve safety without “unfairly penalizing young drivers”.
How might graduated driver’s licenses affect car insurance?
In its Roadmap for Tackling Insurance Costs, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the “adoption of graded driving licenses” has the potential to reduce premiums.
The RAC has also hinted that it believes a license review could lead to young drivers, in particular, paying less for car insurance.
However, it also noted that this is far from certain and that other products – such as “black box” insurance that tracks driving and qualifications, such as the Pass Plus scheme – can already help keep costs down.