Debate contribution: Motor Vehicles (Specified Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on 23 June 2026.

MLA

Ms Liz Kimmins

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

23 June 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Motor Vehicles (Specified Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5637210

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I beg to move

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.

The regulations before us today will amend the Motor Vehicles (Specified Restrictions) Regulations (NI) 1998. These amending regulations are required to facilitate the introduction of graduated driver licensing (GDL). I believe that the GDL has the potential to deliver significant road safety benefits, not least for our young drivers, but particularly for our young male drivers, who, unfortunately, are significantly over-represented in road traffic collision statistics. In 2024, which is the most recent year for which we have published figures, 164 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions where a car driver aged 17 to 23 was responsible. Also in 2024, 12 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions where a motorcyclist aged 17 to 23 was responsible. So far this year, we have lost six young people aged between 16 and 24. Members will agree that every single death is an immeasurable loss, and we must do all that we can to prevent more of our young people dying on the roads. Road safety remains a key priority for me. One death on our roads is always one too many. So far in 2026, 33 people have lost their lives, and I pay tribute to young Kourtney McCormick from my constituency, a wee six-year-old girl who, sadly, lost her life yesterday. The family has been plunged into grief at this horrendous time. That is one person every five days since the start of the year. My thoughts are with the McCormick family and all families affected by the death of a loved one. The GDL is only one of the road safety interventions that I am introducing in this mandate to help to address those unacceptable casualty statistics. Other key actions that I am taking forward include the introduction of a lower legal alcohol limit; legislation to further address the use of mobile phones while driving; a safer journeys to school programme and related legislation; an examination of options for increasing speeding fines; and the development of new engineering-based solutions to target and mitigate risks on routes with the highest collision rates. My Department also continues to deliver targeted and relevant road safety campaigns in educational programmes, the latest being the Roadwise Up campaign to address driver inattention and carelessness, speeding and drug-driving. Once the four vital pieces of GDL-enabling legislation that I have proposed are made and in place, including the regulations before us today, I will launch a dedicated public information campaign in advance of GDL going live. The campaign will communicate the core road safety messages underpinning the policy. It will also promote awareness of the rationale for the introduction of GDL and its contribution to improving road safety outcomes. As many Members will be aware, the GDL framework and its essential measures, as set out in the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (NI) 2016, represent the will of the Assembly at the time when the Act came into force. Also, I firmly believe that it is a significant life-saving intervention that we can all support today. I acknowledge the collective work that we all do to promote road safety. While one of my top priorities as Infrastructure Minister is to contribute, through the work of my Department, to reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads, I do not do so in isolation. I thank the Infrastructure Committee in particular for its work in scrutinising the GDL subordinate legislation that I have proposed and especially for its assistance in getting the legislation before the House for approval in advance of our summer recess. GDL will help our new drivers to become experienced, skilled and safe. It focuses on the learning and new driver phases of our driving journey and includes post-test protections for newly qualified drivers. Once introduced, the scheme will provide a new foundation for improving driving standards, including a six-month mandatory minimum learning period for category B learners; the requirement to complete a programme of training and logbook; removal of the 45 mph speed limit for learners and newly qualified drivers; and a 24-month new driver period, with a new two-part R plate and post-test passenger restrictions for category B drivers. The regulations that we consider today are one of a suite of four linked and interdependent pieces of subordinate legislation that must become operational on the same date. That is required to ensure that GDL can be introduced on 1 October and that it operates as intended from the start. The specified restrictions-amending regulations are made under powers conferred by the Road Traffic (NI) Order 1981. They reflect the introduction of revised restrictions for newly qualified drivers of category B motor vehicles and category A, A1 and A2 motorcycles. In particular, they prescribe the new distinguishing mark — the R plate — that must be displayed by newly qualified drivers and riders for a two-year new driver period. There will be two parts to the R plate. For the initial six months, the plate will be a blue R on a white background. It will highlight the fact that the driver is a new driver and is still developing the skills needed to be a safe driver. It will also help to inform enforcement agencies that the driver is within the passenger restriction period. The second stage R-plate is a white R on a blue background, and it must be displayed for the remaining 18 months of the new driver period. It is intended to deter high-risk behaviour and to inform other road users of the driver's relative inexperience. It will also help to inform enforcement agencies that the driver is within the two-year probationary period established by the Road Traffic (New Drivers) (NI) Order 1998.

The Assembly's approval of those specified restrictions amending regulations will herald the introduction of GDL and enable me to move to make the other GDL enabling SRs that are also required. That will give certainty to this life-saving measure becoming operational as planned on 1 October 2026. I commend the motion to the Assembly and ask that it approves the regulations.

1,017 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:11 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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