Teens could be banned from giving lifts to friends after passing test

Teenage drivers could potentially be banned from giving lifts to their friends for the first six months they spend on the road.

New 'restricted license' proposals could be created for novice drivers under the age of 20 with the aim of saving lives.

Official figures show the risk of a crash is at its highest during the first few months after a young driver passes their test, the Sunday Times report.

Now, the RAC Foundation has proposed a new type of license for younger drivers after gaining the support of bereaved families and road safety groups.

In a letter to the minister for the future of roads, Lilian Greenwood, the group propose that a teenage driver would not be allowed to carry any passengers aged 25 or younger for the first six months after passing their practical test, unless an adult who is at least 35 is present.

One of the supporters of this scheme include Ian Greenwood whose daughter Alice died at the age of 12 after a car driven by an 18-year-old with a 16-year-old passenger collided with her mother's car. 

He said his daughter would still be alive today if the measure was in force that night. 

In April, 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.

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Teenage drivers could be banned from taking their friends out when they pass their test - after horror car crashes that have claimed young lives

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.

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 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, 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.

Steve Gooding, who is the director of the RAC Foundation, said he wanted to help young drivers to be more safe without imposing unpopular measures, such as not being allowed to drive at night.