Teenage drivers could be banned from taking their friends out when they pass their test - after spate of horror car crashes that have claimed young lives
- The AA's scheme would ban drivers from carrying passengers for six months
New teenage drivers could be banned from carrying passengers in their first six months on the road, after a spate of horror crashes have claimed young lives.
The AA's graduated driving licence scheme would give younger drivers the chance to build up experience on rural roads, at nighttime, and in all weather conditions, before they take their test.
It would also ban new drivers from carrying passengers of a similar age in their vehicle for the first six months on the road.
It comes as the AA's president Edmund King told BBC Breakfast he was hearing more and more stories of young people being 'needlessly killed' on the country's roads because of a lack of driving experience.
He labelled it a 'national crisis', which hasn't had the attention from the most senior government officials.
Mr King said: 'Many of these cases are quite ordinary [...] it was inexperience, so what we're trying to do is counter for that inexperience.'
He was joined by Crystal Owen, whose son Harvey was just 17 when he was found alongside his friends Jevon Hirst, 16, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, in their crashed silver Ford Fiesta near Snowdonia National Park in November last year.
Harvey Owen (pictured), 17, was found alongside his friends Jevon Hirst, 16, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, in their crashed silver Ford Fiesta near Snowdonia National Park in November last year
Skye Mitchell (pictured) was 18 when she was killed in a crash with a Ford Transit on the A595 in Bootle, Cumbria in 2018
Kyle Marshall (pictured), 19, tragically died in a crash on Sunday, March 17, 2024
Jesse Owen, 18, from Tonypandy, died alongside three schoolfriends in December 2023
The boys' silver hatchback is thought to have veered off the A4085 in wet and windy conditions in Garreg before overturning.
They were reported missing to the police and their bodies were found the next day inside the vehicle, which was partially submerged in water.
Ms Owen spoke to BBC Breakfast this morning about the importance of the campaign in preventing 'life sentences' for families of loved ones who were killed on the road.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, she said: 'People say it's restrictive. How more restrictive can you get?
'My 17-year-old son's life has been restricted forever. His physical self, all that remains of him now is an urn full of ashes. How many more lives can be taken before the government does anything?'
She went on to say that people assume with young drivers that they're 'doing something wrong', but sometimes they could be within the speed limit but they're not used to the conditions on the roads.
'It's just protecting them in the most crucial stage when they're most likely to crash,' she added.
Crystal Owen (pictured) speaks on BBC Breakfast this morning to call for tougher rules on young drivers
Flowers and tributes left at Garrett village war memorial for the students who died
Teenager friends (clockwise from top left) Harvey Owen, Wilf Fitchett, Hugo Morris and Jevon Hirst were last seen getting into a silver Ford Fiesta car on Sunday morning in November last year
Mrs Owen published this picture of her son Harvey in a Facebook post alongside a link to her petition calling for tougher rules on young drivers
Police are pictured on the A4085 where the silver Fiesta belonging to the teenagers was found
The disappearance of the four boys, from Shropshire, sparked a huge search and an outpouring of grief when they were found; a fundraiser set up to support their families raised over £32,655, smashing a humble target of £4,000.
They were reported missing on Monday, November 20 after failing to return home from the trip. They may have lain undiscovered for up to two days after leaving Harlech at around 11am on November 19, a Sunday, en route to Snowdonia.
The boys - who were all pupils at Shrewsbury College - left their homes on Saturday, November 18, and stayed overnight with Jevon's grandfather, in the seaside town of Harlech 80 miles away, that evening.
They set off for Snowdonia the following morning, intending to spend the Sunday night camping. Their last contact with family is said to have been around the town of Porthmadog, eight miles north, at midday.
They were travelling on the 'narrow and windy' A4085 during what local residents described as 'atrocious' weather conditions with heavy rain and the car appears to have careered off the carriageway close to a bend in an area with almost no mobile phone signal.
Described as 'sensitive and intelligent lads', the four teenagers were inexperienced campers and had only a tent and sleeping bags.
'The plan seems to have been for them to camp in Snowdonia on Sunday evening, but it looks like they never made it to a campsite,' said a source close to the investigation.
A major search operation was launched on the Monday involving a Coastguard helicopter and three teams from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team, who were dispatched to search car parks at the foot of Snowdon for the Fiesta in case the boys had decided to go hiking.
In 2018, two 18-year-old girls were killed in a crash with a Ford Transit on the A595 in Bootle, Cumbria.
Driver Skye Olivia Mitchell and front seat passenger Caitlin Lydia Huddleston were pronounced dead at the scene.
Skye Olivia Mitchell died in a car crash on the A595 in Bootle, Cumbria back in 2018
In a tribute, Ms Mitchell's family said: 'Skye was a popular, kind, caring girl who raised money for various charities. She made the most of her 18 years, embracing every opportunity that came her way.
'Skye made the world a better place and Skye's world was a wonderful world to be in.
'Skye will be very sadly missed by her mam Sharon Fry, dad Ian Mitchell, step-mam Margo, sisters Candice and Millie, her grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, boyfriend Aidan and her many, many friends who all loved her dearly.
'They will all miss the daily hugs she gave them.'
The youngster had just completed her A-levels and was looking forward to studying broadcast journalism at the University of Salford.
In December 2023, three former schoolfriends and rugby team mates were killed in a head-on crash after attending a funeral earlier in the day.
Morgan Smith, 18, died along with Callum Griffiths, 19, and Jesse Owen, 18, when their Audi A1 car crashed with a bus on a winding 20mph road through a Welsh village in the dark and wet.
Tributes flooded in from the boy's heartbroken families who said they have been left with a 'huge void in all our hearts'.
Morgan's father Daniel Chalfont described him as 'my baby boy' and said he was 'literally the most perfect son you could ever wish for'.
In a tribute, he added: 'Miss you so much already. Don't know how I'll live life without you. (I'm) literally broken.'
His mother Laura said: 'Just six hours ago we said our usual love you. This hurts so much.' Morgan was also a keen boxer and had won a Welsh youth title, it was revealed.
Morgan Smith, 18, (pictured) was one of three teenagers who were killed in a crash with a bus on a winding 20mph road through a Welsh village
Jesse Owen, 18, (pictured) who died in a horrific head-on crash
Callum Griffiths, 19, was killed when the Audi A1 he was travelling in crashed head-on with a bus
In an official statement released later by the family, they said: 'Morgan is a popular boy, he is a well-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin.
'We as a family are devastated by the loss of Morgan, we have been left with a void that can never be filled We love you our boy.'
Jesse was described as 'the most loving, happy, kind, calm and beautiful soul' by his family.
In a heartbreaking statement they said: 'Jesse had a presence that would light up any room. He was loved by all who had the honour of knowing him.
'He would do absolutely anything for anyone. He loved his family and friends and was loyal to the core.'
Callum's family said his death had 'left a hole in our hearts that cannot be filled'.
'Callum had the most beautiful smile that would light up the room. He was the most precious gift of a son and our love is endless,' his mother Natalie, father Lee and 15-year-old sister Erin said in a statement.
Two teenagers, Kyle Marshall, 19, and Jayden McConnell, 17, from Stirling, died in a horrific crash with a lorry on March 17 this year.
They were rear seat passengers of a black Vauxhall Corsa which collided with a HGV on the A91, between the Bannockburn Interchange and Greencornhills Roundabout.
Mr Marshall's family paid tribute to Kyle, saying he 'leaves behind his devastated mum Jenny and dad Gary, younger brother Hayden and sister Alix, his grans Janet, Eileen and Joyce, and girlfriend Lucy.
Jayden McConnell (pictured), 17, died following a crash with a vehicle on the A91 in Scotland
Kyle Marshall, 19, died in a horrific crash with a lorry on March 17 this year
'He will be greatly missed by them and all his extended family, as well as his many friends and work colleagues.
'The family wish to thank everyone for their kind messages of condolence, and also want to thank all the emergency service staff involved in the aftermath of this dreadful accident.'
