uk driving licence changes: Petition for driving licence changes in ...

A petition calling for major driving licence changes in the UK could start a debate on road safety as it nears 1,00,000 signatures.Launched by Crystal Owen in October last year, the petition advocates for changes in road safety regulations, including the introduction of a Graduated Driving Licence scheme.

UK driving licence petition: What changes are being proposed?

The petition calls for a Graduated Driving Licence scheme to prevent road accidents. It argues that drivers who are 17-19 years old should not carry passengers aged 25 or younger unless an older adult accompanies them. This rule should be in place for the first six months they are driving. The petition also calls for a learning period of at least six months before one is eligible for a practical driving test.Also Read : Dallas Mavericks coach Darrell Armstrong arrested for alleged gun assault on girlfriendAs per GB News, the proposed change in regulations states that violation of rules should lead to the suspension of the driver’s licence and an imposition of six penalty points. The driver should have to retake their practical assessment under the New Drivers Act 1995.Exemptions would be given to members of the armed forces, young parents and those people qualifying for the enhanced rate of mobility of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

UK driving licence petition near 1,00,000 signatures

The road safety petition has received 97,000 signatures till date, Birmingham Mail reported. If it reaches the 1,00,000 mark then it can be discussed in the parliament. Road safety advocates in the UK have voiced their support for the petition.

Why Crystal Owen is advocating for changes in UK licence rules

Owen lost her 17-year-old son Harvey in 2023, when he and his friends passed away in a car accident. According to the petition, they were being driven to Wales by a newly qualified driver. Two hours after they started off for their destination, their vehicle ended up in a ditch filled with water after it veered off from the road on a bend. All of the passengers drowned.Owen later became part of a campaign called Forget Me Not Families Uniting. Under this, she sought to bring short-term safety measures that can prevent about 537 deaths annually in the UK in cases where 17-19 year old drivers are involved.

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The petition quoted research that claims that one in five newly qualified drivers crash within the first year of their driving.

According to the Department for Transport, almost 5,000 people are killed or seriously injured every year in a road accident that involves a driver aged 25 and under.

FAQs

1. What is the petition called?It is called “Safer Driving Licensing for Newly Qualified 17-19 Year Olds.”

2. How many signatures has the petition received?Over 97,000 people have signed it.