Northern Ireland's young drivers first in UK to get new driving licensing laws

Northern Ireland has become the first part of the UK to introduce new rules for new drivers in a bid to reduce fatal road crashes involving young people.

Graduated driver licensing (GDL), for learner and newly qualified drivers, apply to all new drivers but are particularly aimed at 17 to 23-year-olds.

Among the new rules is that learners must spend at least six months getting driving experience before they can take a practical test.

Newly qualified drivers under 24 will also face restrictions on carrying young passengers at night.

The rule changes were announced in January last year and will see the current speed limit of 45mph for restricted drivers removed.

Drivers who do not follow the restrictions could receive three penalty points or a fine of up to £1,000.

Versions of GDL exist in countries including Australia, the US and Republic of Ireland. Campaigners have called for them to be introduced across the UK.

Police say it will "save lives" but there has been a mixed reaction from young drivers, with some in favour while others, from rural backgrounds, feel frustrated.

However a driving instructor described it as a "terrific" step.

According to official figures, 17 to 23-year-old drivers were responsible for 24% of all collisions, external in Northern Ireland in 2024, despite only accounting for 8% of license holders.

In the same year there were 251 people killed or seriously injured in collisions involving a young driver, and in 65% of those, the young driver was deemed to be at fault.

In January, the government announced that learner drivers in England and Wales could face a minimum period of up to six months between sitting their theory and practical tests.

However, it stopped short of introducing GDLs, which motoring organisation the AA described as "a missed opportunity".

For 16-year-old Tommy from Omagh, driving is a "big factor" in his life.

He has been learning the basics, driving with his dad in fields and private yards for three years already.

However he thinks the new rules will not suit young people who live in rural areas, who don't have access to public transport and rely heavily on lifts.

"There's hardly any transport links out here so you sort of have to rely on people giving me lifts," he said.

"We're about five miles out from the nearest transport hub and it's just hard to organise lifts even to get to work or college."

Tommy has his own car ready to go and considers himself a confident driver who would pass his test first time, but said the time he has to wait to drive it has now been "extended".

"It is a bit gutting, because I was so excited until they announced the new rules coming in, it's hard to believe how big of a change it is going to be," he added.

Veronica Weir, who has 26 years' experience as a driving instructor thinks the law change is "terrific" and that young drivers can be irresponsible.

"It's been a long time coming, about 15 years in the pipeline.

"Kids today just think it's a video game, and if they crash, there's no consequences, there's no ripple effect, they'll just brush themselves off and drive off again," she said.

She said that dangerous driving can affect "their family, their insurance and other parts of the community".

The first new practical tests will take place on 1 April 2027.

For the minister behind the Department for Infrastructure reforms, Sinn Féin's Liz Kimmins, graduated driver licensing is about reducing the risks faced by those getting behind the wheel for the first time.

"I think what we've wanted to do here is shift that emphasis from just simply passing your driving test to actually becoming a confident and competent driver," she said.