UK’s Car Breakdown Firm AA Calls for Graduated Driving Licenses for Young British Drivers

The AA, a leading car breakdown service, is calling for stricter measures for young British drivers in an effort to reduce accidents and lower insurance premiums, Bloomberg reports.

In a letter to UK Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, AA CEO Jakob Pfaudler proposes a “graduated driving license” system similar to those already in place in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

The proposed system would ban new drivers under the age of 25 from carrying passengers of a similar age for six months after passing their driving test. These drivers would also be required to display “G plates” during this period, signifying their limited experience.

Pfaudler argues that these measures, along with other proposals such as mandatory seatbelt use and driver logbooks, could “help to reduce the unnecessary deaths and serious injuries” caused by inexperienced drivers. He also highlights the potential for significant insurance premium reductions for young drivers, citing reductions of up to 40% in countries with similar systems.

“What we’ve seen in other countries is a graduated driving license could lead to insurance premiums for young drivers dropping by up to 40%,” Pfaudler said in an interview.

This is particularly relevant in the UK, where car insurance costs have skyrocketed since the pandemic, disproportionately impacting younger drivers.

Pfaudler’s proposals come alongside the AA’s release of their half-year results, which show a 14% increase in revenue to £712 million ($928 million) compared to the previous year, with pretax profit up 70% to £39 million in the six months to July 31.