Graduated Driver Licensing

24 July 2024

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is once again a hot topic in UK. Evidence sources and briefings are available here.

As highlighted in a report available on The Road Safety Observatory, the introduction of multiple components of GDL could result in saving at least 4,478 casualties, which is considered to be a conservative estimation. In terms of absolute number of casualties, it would be more effective in the more populated and more urban regions, whereas when considering relative numbers, it would be more beneficial for rural regions. Limitations on passenger numbers (in general) and on driving between midnight and 5 a.m., would be welcomed by over 60% of British adults aged 16-75. In the group of employed young adults aged 17 to 19 years old who commute to work with the use of their own car, this amounted to 29% and in the group of 20 to 24 years old it was 46%.

A recent Project EDWARD GDL webinar available here, provides an Australian perspective from Bernard Carlon, executive director of the New South Wales Centre for Road Safety supported by expert input from Dr Sarah Jones of Public Health Wales and Dr Shaun Helman of TRL.

Further evidence and evaluation is available here and additional briefing documents on The Road Safety Knowledge Centre here.