Graduated Driving Licences: What Are They
Simply put a graduated driving license will set certain restrictions to newly qualified drivers. Statistics show a quarter of newly qualified drivers will be involved in an accident. Could Certain restrictions help to reduce this alarmingly high figure? let’s have a look at Pass Me Faster’s graduated driving licences: what are they.
Where Are We At The Moment
Although we have some of the safest roads in the world we’re always looking to make them safer. This was something confirmed by road safety minister Micheal Ellis quite recently.
Crash investigations show –
As many as 1 in 5 newly qualified drivers have an accident in the first year after passing their driving test.
At the moment there’s only one difference between a newly qualified driver and an experienced motorist. That is the number of penalty points for a ban. For newly qualified drivers it’s (6 points) half of what is allowed for an experienced driver. This means a couple of bald tyres or using your handheld phone while driving could lose your license in one fell swoop.
In light of these shocking statistics, nothing has been finalized as of yet. However, the government has been exploring certain possibilities.
Let’s take a look at some of the proposals –
Proposals For The Graduated Licence Scheme
At present, there is nothing concrete but let’s take a look at some of the suggestions.
Passenger Numbers
According to a survey conducted by Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership driving with a car full of passengers increases the risk of an accident. Check this out – you could even be four times more likely to crash!
Could a ban on passengers help you in your first two years?
Driving Curfews
Restricting newly qualified drivers at certain times of the day or night could help to reduce accident statistics. Remember the number one cause of fatal accidents is newly qualified drivers at night on rural roads.
Lower Alcohol Limits
Reducing the alcohol limits for newly qualified drivers from 80 mg per 100 ml to 50 mg. Any alcohol will impair your judgment and slow down your reaction times. Surprisingly drink driving offenses are still on the increase. Un surprisingly December time still peaks out as the worst time for booze cruising.
Speed Limits
Another proposal for the graduated license is to reduce speed limits for newly qualified drivers.
Actually in Northern Ireland drivers get an ‘R’ plate which restricts them to 45mph and no more for the first two years of driving.
Mandatory P Plates
A green P plate is a nice stepping stone from a red L to a fully experienced road chef. At the moment its not mandatory but could it help reduce accidents if it was?
Engine Sizes
The insurance company’s don’t just penalize you for big engines because they’re jealous. There’s a reason – usually the bigger the engine the faster you go faster! It doesn’t take a genius to see how restricting engine sizes could help bring newly qualified crashes down.
There’s no specific yet of as to how small the engine must be but we’ll let you know as soon as we know.
Graduated Driving Licences: What Are They Planning
The idea originated back in 2018 via Teressa May on Prime Ministers Question time. During a debate on reducing accidents, a graduated pilot scheme was suggested.
The scheme will be launched in Northern Island in 2019 / 20 and if successful it’s on its way to the UK thereafter.
