The parents of a teenager killed in a car crash nearly two decades ago have joined road safety campaigners in branding the government's long-awaited new road safety strategy as a 'missed opportunity' that does not go far enough.
Campaigners Demand Stronger Action for Young Drivers
Published on Wednesday 7 January 2026, the strategy is the first major reform to road safety in nearly twenty years. It includes plans for mandatory eye-tests for drivers over 70, lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales, and consulting on a minimum learning period of up to six months for new motorists before their test.
The government states these measures will help cut deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called the strategy a 'turning point', stating it takes decisive action to protect everyone from new drivers to older motorists.
However, campaigners argue it falls critically short on protecting young people. Official statistics show that nearly a quarter of all road deaths and serious injuries involve drivers aged 17-24, despite this group making up only about 6% of licence holders.
'It's Not Enough,' Say Bereaved Parents
Nicole and Chris Taylor, whose 18-year-old daughter Rebecca died in a crash in Northamptonshire in 2008, have campaigned for years for stronger safeguards. They are among hundreds of families calling for the introduction of Graduated Driving Licences (GDL).
"If the government thinks this is enough for us - it's not enough," said Nicole Taylor. "There's a lot more that should have been done and can be done."
Her husband Chris acknowledged that a longer learning period was a good idea but emphasised the core issue: "We have to let young drivers on their own at some point, therefore we need to protect them when that happens."
The Case for Graduated Driving Licences
Used in countries like Australia and Canada, GDLs place restrictions on newly qualified drivers for their initial months on the road. These can include limits on the number of young passengers and bans on late-night driving—factors frequently linked to serious collisions.
Edmund King, President of the AA, told Sky News that while the new strategy was 'welcome and ambitious', it failed young motorists. "The one measure that they all tell us saves the most lives is limiting the number of same-age passengers in a car for six months," he said, referring to international colleagues. "We think that would have been a small price to pay and would save over 50 lives a year."
Key Measures in the 2026 Strategy
The strategy outlines several specific proposals:
- Drink-Drive Limit: Plans to reduce the limit in England and Wales from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms, aligning with Scotland.
- Eyesight Tests: Mandatory testing for drivers aged 70 and over, citing an ageing population and coroners' reports linking poor eyesight to fatalities.
- Technology: Exploring preventative tech like alcohol interlock devices (in-car breathalysers).
- Oversight: Creating a new Road Safety Board to oversee delivery.
The government notes the current drink-drive limit in England and Wales is the highest in Europe and hasn't changed since 1967, with drink-driving accounting for one in six road fatalities in 2023.
Despite these steps, for families like the Taylors and organisations like the AA, the absence of Graduated Driving Licences means the strategy remains a profound disappointment and a lost chance to prevent future tragedies.
