A group of 40 bereaved parents are demanding immediate action on licence changes to tackle the unacceptable and disproportionately high number of young driver and passenger deaths on UK roads.

The parents, whose sons and daughters were all killed by cars driven by young drivers, have formed a campaigning group

The parents, whose sons and daughters were all killed by cars driven by young drivers, have formed a campaigning group called Forget-me-not Families Uniting, calling on the Government to save young lives.

In Britain, young drivers between the ages of 17 and 24 are involved in 24% of all collisions resulting in death or serious injury, even though this group accounts for just 7% of the total driving population.

In 2022, 4,935 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes involving at least one young driver – this includes other road users of all ages, such as people travelling in separate cars or pedestrians.

Data from transport safety studies, car insurance companies and driving charities over many years has shown that drivers under the age of 24 are more likely to have crashes when they are carrying similar-aged passengers in their car, when driving at night and when driving conditions are difficult.

For decades, governments have been repeatedly presented with the evidence on how to reduce the huge risks facing young, newly qualified drivers aged 17-24 and their passengers, but no action has been taken.

The new campaigning group is now demanding the introduction of graduated driving licensing to reduce road death and serious injury. This restricts the number of similar-aged passengers a young driver can carry in the car, as well as night-time driving. It’s already used in several countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many US states, where it’s led to a reduction of between 20% and 40% in deaths and serious injuries in crashes involving young drivers.

The parents’ calls come soon after a group of leading road safety experts signed an open letter, published in The Guardian and calling on national politicians to commit to taking action on proven, evidence-based measures to save young lives on the UK’s roads.

Forget-me-not Families Uniting was formed by Sharron Huddleston, Chris and Nicole Taylor and Dr Ian Greenwood after years of campaigning for the introduction of a Graduated Driving Licensing system in the UK, following the deaths of their daughters.

Sharron Huddleston said: “Our message to the Government is simple – listen to us, listen to the experts and learn from other countries, who have seen a huge reduction in young driver and passenger deaths after introducing graduated driving licensing for young novice drivers.

“We all want and deserve a serious conversation with the Government. We want to know what they are going to do about this huge problem. If they won’t introduce a graduated driving licensing system, why? And if not that, then what?”

A report in 2018 by the Transport Research Laboratory concluded that graduated driving licensing not only saves lives and reduces serious injuries, but it also saves millions of pounds.

In 2022, experts at the RAC Foundation confirmed that graduated driving licensing improves road safety while having minimal impact on new drivers’ access to education, employment and social activities.

Forget-me-not Families Uniting has the backing of RoadPeace, Brake and The Road Victims’ Trust.

The charities said: “We’re proud to come together to back these families and this growing movement. These families deserve to be heard and we hope to see action finally taken by the Government.

“We welcome other families to join this campaign and help us to stop these unnecessary deaths and serious injuries, just as other countries have.”