Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (New Drivers) Bill: Batley and Spen MP to introduce new road safety bill in Parliament

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (New Drivers) Bill is the Batley and Spen MP’s latest move in her road safety campaign that she launched after being elected in July 2021.

Under the legislation she is proposing, newly qualified drivers would face restrictions for the first six months, including a zero alcohol limit and controls over the number of young passengers allowed.

Research has shown that in 2022, 29,742 people were killed or seriously injured on roads in the United Kingdom, with around a fifth of all those killed or seriously injured being a result of collisions involving cars driven by a young car driver.

Kim Leadbeater will introduce the new bill under the Ten Minute Rule in the House of Commons, with her proposal for what are known as ‘Graduated Driving Licences’ gaining cross-party support, including from two former Conservative ministers.

Graduated Driving Licences are backed by many road safety and other organisations including the AA, the RAC, Brake and The Association of British Insurers.

Kim said: “Since I was elected in 2021, road safety has been one of my top priorities as the Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen and an issue frequently raised with me by understandably concerned constituents.

“We must never forget that behind that statistic there are thousands of lives, right across the country, grieving or going through unimaginable pain. Lives changed forever and families torn apart by tragic and often avoidable collisions.

“Many of us will remember being new drivers. The inexperience, the lack of confidence or sometimes, sadly often amongst younger men, the overconfidence.”

Graduated Driving Licences are backed by many road safety and other organisations including the AA, the RAC, Brake and The Association of British Insurers.

Edmund King OBE, AA president, said: “We fully endorse the Bill and hope it can become law to help prevent so many needless deaths.

“The AA’s Motoring Manifesto called on all parties to take steps to reduce road deaths, and improving the safety of newly qualified drivers is vital to achieve that ambition. We’re pleased Kim Leadbeater has chosen to lead on this important issue.”

Kim was inspired to address the issue of graduated driving licences after meeting Dr Ian Greenwood at Westminster with the West Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe. Dr Greenwood, from Halifax, lost his 12-year old daughter Alice when the car her mother was driving was hit in 2008. The 18-year old driver of the other car and his 16-year old passenger were also killed.

RAC road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis, said: “The tragic statistics speak for themselves. Young drivers, especially men, are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads, so it’s high time a renewed focus was given to reducing casualties.

“Families up and down the country who have lost sons and daughters far too soon are looking for something to change, and graduated driving licences could well be the answer.

“Passing the practical driving test is the very first step in anyone’s driving career, but there remains so much more to learn to become a safe, proficient and confident driver.

"We call on MPs to back this Bill and set the wheels in motion in creating legislation that has the potential to save lives.”

The bill would impose restrictions on all newly qualified drivers for the first six months after they pass their test, with exemptions for work, medical and emergency reasons.