A major new report from road safety charity Brake has revealed strong public support for tougher licensing rules for young drivers.

Statistical evidence for young driver casualties remains unchanged, as they continue to face the greatest danger on British roads.

Thousands continue to be killed or seriously injured in crashes each year, and the charity highlights calls for significant changes to attitudes around training and licensing.

Young and dangerous

The UK charity Brake’s ‘Young Driver Safety’ report highlights the scale of the issue, showing that 4,740 people are killed or seriously injured annually in crashes involving drivers aged 17 to 24.

It argues that Britain’s current licensing system is not sufficient to address the risks faced by newly qualified motorists.

Fundamental to the report is its survey of 3,000 UK adults conducted by OnePoll in July 2025, which paints a picture of widespread concern about young driver safety.

More than a third (35%) of respondents said they had either been involved in a crash with a young driver or knew someone who had.

Among 18- to 24-year-olds, that figure rises sharply to 54%, underlining how close the issue is to those most affected.

The findings also reveal a broader sense of unease.

Nearly six in 10 people (59%) said they worry that they or someone they care about could be involved in a collision with a young driver.

Brake says this demonstrates that the impact of crashes involving young drivers is not confined to a small group but is “a societal issue affecting families and communities across the country.”

Backing reform

One of the most striking findings in the report is the level of public support for change.

More than three-quarters (77%) of those surveyed said they support strengthening the driver licensing system to reduce deaths and serious injuries.

Meanwhile, 72% believe reform is essential to save lives, and 89% agree that all road users should be protected from known risks.

There is also a clear demand for political action.

Almost four in five (79%) said the Government has a responsibility to prevent future deaths linked to young drivers, while 68% want their MP to do more to tackle the issue.

Ross Moorlock, chief executive of Brake, said the findings show public opinion is firmly behind reform.

“Public opinion is on our side. It’s time for the Government to listen, step up and take action to tackle unacceptable death and injury,” he said.

In practice

At the heart of the report is the case for a stronger, more graduated driver licensing system (GDL), similar to those already in place in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and parts of the United States.

These systems allow new drivers to build experience gradually, while limiting exposure to high-risk situations in the early months after passing their test.

Measures could include:

  • Restrictions on night-time driving
  • Limits on carrying same-age passengers
  • A phased approach to gaining full driving privileges

Brake argues that such steps are proven internationally to reduce crashes and save lives, particularly among inexperienced drivers.

The report highlights several factors that contribute to higher crash rates among young motorists.

These include inexperience, overconfidence, distraction and risk-taking behaviours, as well as a greater likelihood of driving at night or with peers—both known risk factors.

Despite making up a relatively small proportion of licence holders, young drivers continue to be disproportionately involved in serious and fatal collisions.

Brake says the current UK system allows newly qualified drivers to face these risks immediately after passing their test, without any gradual transition period.

What’s new?

While concerns about young drivers are not new, the report’s key development is its focus on public attitudes, showing unprecedented levels of support for reform.

The findings suggest that stronger licensing is no longer a fringe idea but has mainstream backing across age groups and regions.

They also emphasise the human impact of crashes, with personal experience—either direct or through someone known—driving public concern and support for change.

At present, the Government is consulting on various aspects of its Road Safety Strategy, including whether learners should have a minimum learning period.

For the time being, the Government continues to reject the idea of GDL in the UK, or even compulsory professional driver training.

Call for action

Brake is now calling on the Government to commit to reforming the driver licensing system, arguing that the evidence is clear: a chronic, prolonged road safety problem that now has a strong public mandate to act.

The charity is also urging broader support from parents, educators, young people, and the road safety sector to push for the changes needed to young driver training and licensing: without action, the risks facing young drivers—and those around them—will remain unacceptably high.

Read the full report here.