Parents support licence restrictions for new drivers

Date: 6/10/2011

The majority of parents in the UK would be in support of restrictions being placed on the licences of newly-qualified motorists.

A survey of mothers and fathers by Brake and Leigh Day and Co Solicitors revealed that 94 per cent of respondents are fearful for their child's life when they get behind the wheel of a car or accept a lift from another young driver.

As a result, 80 per cent stated that they wanted limits to be imposed on people during the first year after passing their test.

Possible restrictions include enforcing a lower drink-drive threshold, a maximum number of passengers or a night-time motoring curfew.

Many were themselves happy to invest in making sure their children stayed safe, claiming that should such technology be available they would purchase whatever was necessary to stop their daughter or son from speeding.

According to official statistics, more fatalities of people aged between 15 and 24 years old in England and Wales are the result of a preventable road crash than any other cause.

Recent research carried out by AXA Car Insurance found that motorists aged 18 to 30 are three times more likely to get points on their licence or be banned from driving if one of their parents has been subject to such a penalty.

Posted by Sarah Bailey