Drivers are being warned of new licence restrictions coming into effect this month. As part of the changes, young people will be banned from carrying certain passengers at night and there will also be changes to when learners can undergo their test.
According to official figures, drivers between the ages of 17 and 23-years-old were responsible for almost a quarter of all collisions in Northern Ireland back in 2024, despite them only accounting for 8 per cent of licence holders.
251 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions involving a young driver in 2024. According to the figures, in 65 per cent of cases, the young driver was at fault.
It comes after the Labour government announced in January this year that learner drivers in England and Wales could face a wait of six months between sitting their theory and practical tests.
Learners must spend at least six months getting driving experience before they can take a practical test. Those under 24 also face restrictions on carrying young passengers at night under the new rules.
The rule changes were announced in January 2026, and drivers who do not follow the restrictions could face three penalty points or a fine of up to £1,000.
As part of the Road Safety Strategy, that was developed under Sir Keir Starmer’s former government before Andy Burnham took over as PM, drivers born after 2002 may face stricter measures.
Andy Burnham’s new government is now weighing up proposals to implement a “minimum learning period for learner drivers”.
Learners may have to wait six months between their theory test and practical driving test as part of the plans – the majority of learner drivers are younger people in the UK.
Meanwhile, the proposal plans for drivers in their 70s to have their vision checked every three years to keep driving on UK roads.
This is also not a new policy announced by Mr Burnham but a policy which was first discussed in August 2025 during Sir Keir Starmer’s time in Number 10 – it went to consultation earlier this year between January and May.