What is a graduated driving licence?

Following the announcement that Northern Ireland is to introduce graduated driver licensing from October 2026, a Tempcover study of 1,500 motorists has revealed many drivers support this change:

• 63% believe the introduction of graduated driving licences would reduce road crashes if rolled out across the UK.
• 41% believe GDL rules could cut the number of crashes involving young drivers specifically if introduced across the UK.
• 35% say the changes could help young people become better drivers and improve their safety.
• 34% believe the proposed rules would encourage safer driving habits in the long term.

What are the graduate driving licence rules?

Described by the BBC as the most significant changes to Northern Ireland’s driving laws in 70 years, a graduated driver licence is designed to help new drivers - especially those aged between 17 and 23 - gain experience safely through a number of restrictions:

• They’ll have to wait six months after being granted a provisional licence to take their practical driving test.
• They’ll have to complete 14 modules in a programme of training, which must be signed off by an approved driving instructor or supervisor e.g. parent or guardian.
• They’ll have to display an R plate on their car for 24 months instead of the current 12, with a different colour indicating they are a new driver for the first six months.
• For the first six months after passing their test, new drivers up to the age of 24 are only permitted to have one passenger aged between 14 and 20 (excluding family members and anyone aged 21 or over sitting in the front seat who has held a full driver’s licence for at least three years) in the car between 11pm and 6am.
• Learner drivers will be allowed to drive on the motorway if accompanied by an approved instructor and will be able to drive on the motorway up to the posted speed limit after passing their test.
• Penalties for breaking any of the above rules could result in three penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000.

Why are GDLs being introduced in Northern Ireland?

Drive states that road traffic accidents account for 46.1% of all deaths amongst the 15-19 age group and 31.7% amongst 20-to 24-year-olds in the UK. Meanwhile, drivers under 25 account for around 20% of all drivers killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents.

The graduated driver licensing reforms have come in with the main aim of saving the lives of new drivers, their passengers and other road users.

This probationary period will help drivers learn the rules of the road in a real-time setting, with the restrictions specifically aimed at reducing the times the driver is more at risk e.g. driving at night or when giving other young people a lift.

Are there any concerns around GDLs?

While the Tempcover survey shows support is relatively high for these new measures, there is some hesitation around their impact on young drivers:

• 22% believe the measures could frustrate young drivers.
• 18% worry they could limit independence.
• 13% believe GDLs could make it harder for young drivers to get around on a day-to-day basis.
• 10% are concerned that young drivers may be encouraged to break rules.
• 8% believe the rules may discourage young people from learning to drive altogether.

Despite this, only 3% believe the rules would have little or no impact on young drivers.

Which countries already have graduated driving licences?

According to The RAC, the following countries all have their own take on graduated licensing schemes:

• Republic of Ireland
• USA
• Australia
• New Zealand

How could the GDL scheme impact young drivers if rolled out all across the UK?

Claire Wills-McKissick, learner driver insurance expert at Tempcover, shares her thoughts:

“While it’s understandable that some young drivers may worry about restrictions, our research shows most motorists recognise the specific safety benefits these rules offer. The measures are designed to tackle various distinct challenges new drivers face. For example, extending the supervised learning phase gives more time to experience a wider variety of road and weather conditions, helping new drivers build stronger, instinctual driving habits. Meanwhile, limiting late-night passengers helps new drivers maintain their focus, specifically by reducing in-car distractions during more challenging night time journeys.

“Drivers aged 17 to 25 generally face the highest insurance premiums, as they are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents[1]. Reducing crashes among this group could help stabilise costs, adding another tangible benefit to the scheme”.

Methodology

Tempcover surveyed a sample of 1,501 drivers (18+) in the UK in February 2026. The survey was conducted by market research company TLF Research. The following questions were asked:

How supportive would you be of the following proposed rules if they applied across the rest of the UK? Please rate each rule from 1 (strongly opposed) to 5 (strongly support)

• New drivers cannot take their driving test for at least six months after receiving their provisional licence (except carers)
• New drivers must complete 14 mandatory training modules, signed off by an approved driving instructor or supervising driver
• The restriction period after passing the test increases from 12 to 24 months, requiring new drivers to display an ‘R’ plate on their vehicles after passing - a different colour of ‘R’ plate will signify a driver in their initial six-month period
• For the first six months after passing their test, new drivers under 24 may have only one passenger aged 14-20 between 23:00-06:00 (excluding immediate family or if a driver aged 21+ with 3+ years’ licence is in the front seat)

If these rules were introduced across the rest of the UK, do you think they would have the desired outcome of reducing road crashes?

If these rules were rolled out across the rest of the UK, how do you think they would affect young drivers? (select all that apply)

[1] https://www.tempcover.com/guides/insurance-tips/10-things-influencing-your-car-insurance-premium

Sources

https://just-drive.co.uk/learning-to-drive/what-are-graduated-licence-schemes/

https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/choosing-the-right-insurance/motor-insurance/graduated-driver-licencing/

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/learning-to-drive/graduated-driving-licences/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cew87q890pyo