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

Debate contribution by Mr John Stewart on 23 June 2026.

MLA: Mr John Stewart
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 23 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Motor Vehicles (Specified Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5637238

Text

Before I start, I send my condolences and thoughts to the family of Kourtney McCormick and the families of all those who have lost their lives on our roads this year and in recent years. It is truly tragic, and our thoughts are with them all. We all want to see fewer road traffic collisions, fewer serious injuries, and, most importantly, fewer families having to endure the devastating loss of a loved one on our roads. If the GDL can help to improve driver behaviour, increase safety and save lives, they are to be welcomed. On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, I welcome them. It has been 10 years since the legislation came in. There has been a variety of reasons for the hiatus between then and now, but I thank the Minister and her officials for getting us to this stage. However, I have made this point before, and it is not personal in any way, but the roll-out could have been handled better. Throughout the Committee's scrutiny process, it became clear that greater engagement with key stakeholders at an earlier stage would have made for a smoother, more streamlined implementation process. In particular, concerns were raised by representatives of the driving instructor sector regarding communication, preparedness and operational clarity. Driving instructors, as we know, are at the coalface of driver education and training. They have a unique understanding of the practical realities facing learners and newly qualified drivers. Their expertise should have been valued and utilised from the outset when significant changes such as those were being proposed. The Minister will point to the fact that they were consulted in 2015, but the reality is that, like the Committee, they found out from listening to the airwaves. For full and effective implementation, it might have been better to bring them along at the earliest possible stage, so that there was not the fear that they would not be ready in time for the roll-out, but we are where we are. I am pleased that, following Committee scrutiny and subsequent engagement with the Department, DVA and the instructor sector, many of those concerns appear to have been addressed. That demonstrates the value of constructive engagement and effective Assembly scrutiny. Like the Committee Chair, I record my thanks to all those who took the time to come to the Committee and give evidence during that consideration period. In particular, I thank representatives from the Driving Instructor Association, the Northern Ireland Approved Instructor Council, the Association of British Insurers and the Youth Assembly for their thoughtful contributions.
I thank the Members of the Youth Assembly in particular. Young drivers are among those who will be most affected by the changes, and it was vital that we got their input. Many of those who spoke to us on the day were only two or three years old when the consultation took place and the legislation was passed, so it was interesting to get their insight. While they pointed out that they would have liked further consultation, they were aware of why that did not happen. Moving forward, I will be keen to get assurances from the Minister that every effort will be made to ensure that the introduction of the GDL is as seamless and effective as possible. Her officials have been working tirelessly behind the scenes. Over the weekend, however, when I was out and about around the constituency, driving instructors and soon-to-be first-time provisional drivers were asking me questions that I still did not know the answer to. The driving instructors were concerned about the roll-out of their GDL training. I urge the Minister to continue her ongoing engagement. Members have raised that at the Committee, but there is a fear of the unknown in how that training will be rolled out. I hope that that comes to fruition, and I will be keen to hear the Minister's opinion on that. Other Members raised the issue of insurance costs. One of the arguments that is often advanced in support of the GDL is that it will result in safer roads and reduce risk over time, which, in turn, will lead to lower insurance premiums for newly qualified drivers. While road safety is paramount, and that is the intent of the GDL regulations, the by-product of that will, hopefully, be a reduction in insurance premiums. I do not have to tell the House just how ridiculous insurance fees are for young people here. Some are being quoted mortgage-like prices, and the Association of British Insurers has finally accepted that it needs to amend the reporting mechanism. As members of the Committee will know, until we asked for that to be changed, the ABI was not reporting by area or by demographic, which meant that we were not able to track whether young people in Northern Ireland would be positively affected by the introduction of the GDL. Going forward, Minister, my understanding is that the ABI will do that. I know that that strays into the remit of other Departments, particularly the Department for the Economy, but it will be interesting to see whether we can track that. Any impact, even a 10% reduction in insurance premiums, would be vastly helpful to young people, some of whom are being quoted between £3,500 and £4,500 a year — I do not need to tell you that. Those are just some of the points that I wanted to raise. I am keen to see this going forward and look forward to the roll-out. Hopefully, the Minister and her officials will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that it is rolled out efficiently.

940 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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