England has proposed a new rule for young drivers that aims to curb the number of collisions incurred by those who have only recently received their license. Under the proposed regulations, young drivers in England who have not yet had their drivers licenses for more than two years would not be able to drive at night or drive with other young passengers in the vehicle.
"Figures show that a fifth [of young drivers] are involved in an accident during their first year behind the wheel, and ministers are considering introducing a graduated license system for novice rivers in England."
Reporting on this recent announcement from England's Department of Transportation, the Guardian notes that there are firm supporters and detractors on each side, with some arguing that drastic steps are necessary in confronting the problem of high collisions for young drivers, and others saying that such restrictions could negatively impact young people's job prospects.
As the Guardian also notes, this proposal is already in place in different parts of the world, including certain provinces in Canada (the home of AlertDriving!). In Canada, where the regulation against night driving has been in place for some time, it has become a commonplace part of the process of becoming a fully licensed driver. It will be interesting, however, to see how the proposed regulations play out in a country where that norm hasn't been established.
What lies at the heart of the proposed regulations, and at the heart of the rules that are already in place in countries around the world, is the problem of how to address the high rate of collisions for young drivers. The statistics cited by the England Department of Transportation give an idea of the scope of the problem, and the need for some form of solution. In this respect, it's worth paying attention to an additional aspect of the proposed changes in England - a minimum learning period. While various parties may disagree on whether banning night driving is the best way forward, more training is always a good thing.
For more, check out the original article in the Guardian.