Preventable deaths caused by inexperienced young drivers in high-powered vehicles must no longer be tolerated as a policy choice.  I am calling for the introduction of a Graduated Driver Licensing system with mandatory vehicle power restrictions for young and newly qualified drivers, enforced through DVLA licensing conditions and insurance eligibility.

On 16 August 2025, my life was destroyed in an instant when my two-year-old son, Sonny, was killed just 100 yards from our home. A man in his 20's driving a modified high powered BMW lost control of his vehicle before mounting the pavement and striking both Sonny and his father.  

This tragedy reflects a wider and well-evidenced road safety failure. In the United Kingdom, drivers aged 17–24 are consistently overrepresented in serious and fatal collisions. Current approaches focused on education and enforcement do not address a core structural issue: early driving years are a period of developing experience, judgement, and emotional control, yet drivers are immediately given access to high-powered vehicles that demand consistently mature risk management.  At this stage, inexperience and developing decision-making under pressure can significantly increase the likelihood of loss of control. When combined with high-performance vehicles, the consequences of a single error can be catastrophic and irreversible for all road users.

I am calling for the introduction of a Graduated Driver Licensing framework with mandatory vehicle power restrictions for newly qualified drivers, ensuring that access to high-performance vehicles is restricted until individuals reach a prescribed minimum age and have held a full driving licence for a defined minimum period.  This must be enforced through DVLA licensing conditions and supported by insurance requirements.  This reform would reduce preventable deaths on our roads and protect the public, while also reducing the likelihood of young drivers facing life-altering consequences, including serious injury, death, and criminal liability.

Preventable loss of life demands urgent action. I urge policymakers to act now.