Evidence shows teenage driver deaths in Canada have fallen by 83%
Graduated Driving Licenses (GDLs) were first introduced in Canada more than 30 years ago, and Australia and New Zealand have since followed suit.
Gaining a full driving licence in Canada takes at least 20 months, with students earning certain freedoms in stages.
New drivers –
- Are not allowed on the road between midnight and 5am,
- Or, to drive on high-speed roads,
- Plus, there’s a limit on the number of passengers under 19 years old allowed per car.
Canada saw an immediate 31% drop in collisions involving novice drivers. Now, evidence shows that deaths among 16 to 19-year-old drivers have fallen by 83% thanks to the GDLs.
UK government claim Graduated Driving Licenses are ‘unfair’
Despite strong evidence, the UK government say they are not considering introducing GDLs, claiming they “unfairly” penalise young drivers. The UK government have stated before that young male drivers are four times more likely to be killed or injured compared with other motorists. And in 2023, around a fifth of people killed or seriously injured in car collisions on British roads involved a young driver.
Speaking to Sky News, Superintendent Matt Moyer, who heads up Toronto Police Traffic Services, said of the UK government’s stance, “It’s so disingenuous. You’re downplaying what an important function and responsibility it is to be behind the wheel of a car.”
16-year-old Anthony Martella, a learner driver in Canada, admitted,
“It is a bit frustrating, but I completely understand why the rules are in place. It makes me feel safe because when you’re on the road you want that mutual respect with other people on the road as well…having that aspect of making it longer so people can drive and learn the ways of the road, it makes it better for everyone.”
Petition for stricter driving rules backed by 100,000 UK residents
Further pressure has been put on the government by Forget-Me-Not Families Uniting, a group made up of those who’ve lost loved ones in car crashes. They lobbied the government to bring in tougher laws – and last week delivered a 100,000-strong petition to Downing Street.
Mia Pullen’s brother Elliot was killed when a car he was travelling in smashed into a tree at 100mph in 2023 in Oxfordshire. When asked about the government’s current stance on GDLs she said, “It makes me feel really angry, and really quite disappointed and let down by our government because he would still be here and so would hundreds of other people’s sons and daughters.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson told Sky News,
“Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way.
“Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driving Licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads, and we are exploring options to tackle the root causes of this without unfairly penalising young drivers.”
John Dillion, Head of Dispute Resolution at Watermans, shared,
“The introduction of Graduated Driving Licences (GDL) in other jurisdictions around the world has witnessed an increase in road safety for young drivers. You cannot see past the 31% drop in collisions involving novice drivers after its introduction in Canada or the 83% reduction in fatal accidents involving those aged 16 to 19 years old. That’s a staggering statistic and the measures have clearly increased road safety and no doubt saved lives.
The introduction of measures should not be viewed as a penalty but as a learning platform to help young drivers gain the valuable experience they need for driving on the road. GDL’s have a track record of improving road safety. One of the other potential benefits, apart from the obvious increase in road safety, could be cheaper insurance for young drivers. Currently, they face high premiums given that they pose of higher risk of being involved in a collision on our roads. If the risks involving young drivers are reduced, then surely the insurance premiums they pay would need to be reduced as well.
Ultimately, the main aim of introducing GDL’s is to save lives and that is not something that our government should overlook or ignore.”