Driving licence restrictions: West Midlands drivers could face curfews in 2026 - here's why
The Government is being urged to introduce curfews for new drivers in 2026 amid a raft of other driving licence restrictions
Greater safeguards and restrictions to help protect new drivers are being called upon by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.
Simon Foster is calling on the government to implement the safeguards for newly qualified motorists in a bid to save lives.
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is backing a national campaign for Progressive Driving Licences, which would introduce temporary measures tailored to new drivers in the months before and after passing their practical driving test.
This wold include curfews on late-night driving during high risk times, lower drink drive limits, allowing fewer similar-aged passengers to travel with a newly qualified driver, minimum learning periods and mandatory use of in car technology to provide incentives for good and legal driving.
Mr Foster said the safeguards and restrictions would all help to cut road deaths of young drivers, their passengers, and other road users.
In a letter sent to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, the PCC warned that young and newly qualified drivers remain vastly overrepresented in road casualties, with new drivers aged 17–24 year old accounting for nearly a quarter of car drivers killed or seriously injured, despite being only 7 per cent of licence holders.
In addition, he said there is a young driver involved in road collisions which lead to 20 per cent of all casualties on the road.
Progressive Driving Licences already exist in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Mr Foster said international evidence showed dramatic reductions in fatal and serious collisions, including an 83 per cent fall in deaths among 16 to 19-year-old drivers in Canada.
He said: “Road safety and reducing the number of people tragically and avoidably killed or seriously injured on our roads has been a top priority for me since I was first elected in May 2021.
“Progressive Driving Licences are a proven, proportionate and urgently needed solution.
"Every day we delay, young lives are being put at risk. Continued inaction to prevent these collisions and casualties is unacceptable.
"The Government must seize this opportunity, and include them in its Road Safety Strategy”
The PCC also emphasised that concerns about restricting young people’s access to education, employment, training or caring responsibilities can be fully mitigated through exemptions and is urging West Midlands MPs to call on the Department for Transport to include Progressive Driving Licences in the upcoming Road Safety Strategy.
