Home » Government considers zero alcohol limit for young drivers to enhance road safety

Government considers zero alcohol limit for young drivers to enhance road safety

A zero-alcohol limit for young drivers could be introduced in the UK as part of efforts to reduce road fatalities, a government minister has suggested.


Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood revealed that the Government is assessing the effectiveness of such policies in other countries, with a view to strengthening road safety measures.


Examining International Precedents

Currently, the legal drink-drive limit in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland stands at 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood—the highest threshold in Europe. In contrast, most European nations have set their limits at 50mg/100ml or lower, with Scotland having adopted the 50mg/100ml standard in 2014.


Several countries, including France, Germany, Ireland, and Portugal, enforce a zero or near-zero alcohol policy for newly qualified drivers. The UK Government is now considering whether a similar approach could help curb road accidents involving younger motorists.
Calls for a Minimum Training PeriodSpeaking during a Westminster Hall debate on young driver safety, Ms Greenwood also suggested that a mandatory training period for learners before they take their driving test could be introduced.


“We can look to international experience,” she stated. “For example, a number of countries have a lower or zero alcohol limit for young drivers, or a minimum learning period.”


Department for Transport (DfT) statistics reveal that in 2023, 290 people lost their lives and 4,669 were seriously injured in crashes involving at least one driver aged 17-24.


Motoring research charity RAC Foundation has backed the government’s review. Its director, Steve Gooding, remarked: “If the evidence supports reducing the drink-drive limit for newly qualified drivers, it should be considered.


“We also see a strong case for a minimum learning period as part of a broader strategy ensuring young drivers gain sufficient experience before taking their test, while continuing to develop their skills safely afterward.”


Exploring Further Safety Measures

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Ms Greenwood indicated that the DfT is also reviewing a range of additional measures aimed at improving safety for young drivers. These include the introduction of logbooks to track learning progress, enhanced hazard perception training, classroom-based education, mentoring schemes, and telematics technology to monitor driver behaviour.


However, the Government has ruled out implementing graduated driving licensing (GDL), which restricts newly qualified drivers from night-time driving or carrying passengers of a similar age for a set period after passing their test. Countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, and Sweden have already adopted GDL schemes.


“While we are not considering graduated driving licences, we recognise that young drivers are disproportionately involved in serious collisions,” Ms Greenwood stated. “That is why we are exploring alternative measures to tackle the root causes without unfairly penalising young motorists.


“This Government wants to balance road safety with ensuring young people can access employment, education, and other opportunities.”


A Missed Opportunity?

Despite the Government’s stance, some road safety advocates argue that rejecting GDL is a mistake. Edmund King, director of the AA Charitable Trust, described it as “a missed opportunity to prevent further lives being lost and families being devastated.”


He added: “Non-legislative changes, such as additional hazard perception training and classroom-based education, will not be sufficient to strike the right balance between protecting young drivers and allowing them the freedom they need to live their lives.”


The Government is expected to outline further details in its forthcoming road safety strategy, the first comprehensive update in over a decade. Ms Greenwood reaffirmed the commitment to reducing road deaths, stating: “We can never regard road fatalities as inevitable. The majority of crashes are preventable, and our strategy will reflect this principle.”


As discussions continue, the debate remains over whether a zero-alcohol limit, extended training periods, and other proposed reforms will be enough to make Britain’s roads safer for young drivers.

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