Official announcement from the UK government or relevant legislative body

AA Urges Ban on Under-21 Drivers Carrying Peers After North Wales Crash Kills Four Teens

Oct 21, 2024, 04:41 AM

The AA (Automobile Association) has called on the UK government to impose a ban on newly qualified drivers under the age of 21 from carrying passengers of a similar age for six months after passing their test. This proposal aims to reduce road accidents involving young drivers and could potentially prevent 58 deaths and 900 serious injuries each year. The call for stricter rules comes in the wake of an avoidable fatal crash in North Wales, where four teenagers—Eleanor Barlow, David Powell, Owen Hughes, and Ramazani Mwamba—were killed when their car rolled into a ditch during a camping trip to Snowdonia. The inexperienced driver was reported to have gone around a bend too fast. A coroner investigating the incident raised concerns about young, newly qualified drivers carrying passengers, and the mother of one of the victims, Crystal Owen, is campaigning for the introduction of graduated driving licenses. The AA's recommendation has garnered support from various quarters and has been presented by its boss in a letter to the Labour's Transport Secretary for consideration.