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Rundlewalker Responds to NI Graduated Driving Licence Announcement.

Rundlewalker Personal Injury Team Responds to NI Graduated Driving Licence Announcement.

Rundlewalker Solicitors’ Personal Injury Team has welcomed the news that Northern Ireland will become the first part of the United Kingdom to introduce a Graduated Driving Licence (GDL) system, a landmark initiative aimed at improving road safety and reducing fatal and serious collisions involving new and young drivers.

The new scheme, set to be implemented from 1 October 2026, introduces a phased approach to driver learning and licensing that will include a minimum learning period, structured training requirements, extended post-test restrictions and limits on night-time driving and passengers for newly qualified drivers. The reforms have been described by officials as the most significant changes to driver licensing in the UK in almost 70 years.

Roger Henderson, Head of the Personal Injury Team at Rundlewalker, said:

“We warmly welcome the introduction of Graduated Driving Licences in Northern Ireland. These measures have been proposed for a long time, and it is encouraging to see them finally being taken forward. Graduated licences represent a sensible, evidence-based approach to improving road safety by helping new drivers build experience in a structured way. Anything that can help reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads is to be supported.”

Roger continued:

“Our personal injury team sees at first hand the devastating impact that serious collisions have on families and communities. While no single policy can ever prevent all tragedies, introducing Graduated Driving Licences is a positive step that recognises the very real risks faced by young and novice drivers and seeks to mitigate them through better training and graduated responsibility.”

Rundlewalker Solicitors has a long-standing commitment to promoting road safety and supporting those affected by road traffic collisions. The firm urges policymakers across the UK to monitor the impact of the Northern Ireland scheme closely and consider similar reforms for other regions in the interest of public safety.

For more information on how Rundlewalker’s Personal Injury Team can help following a road traffic collision, please contact our office. Simply contact us now to discuss your legal situation and we can advise you of the options available. Please call Roger Henderson on 01392 209218 or email roger.henderson@rundlewalker.com.

Roger has worked closely with many road safety professionals and stakeholders, so he very much supports all road users taking extra care and being respectful to each other whilst on the roads of Devon and Cornwall.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.

 "I had a really positive experience with Rundlewalker. Roger was extremely knowledgeable and empathetic to my case. He kept me updated at every stage of the process and ensured I knew exactly what the next steps were. He was friendly and approachable and only ever a phone call away. I really appreciated his high level of professionalism, which all helped in achieving a successful outcome. Highly recommended." M.P.

 "We can't thank you, Roger, enough for all of your hard work during the process of the claim. You have been brilliant and kept us informed throughout which we both really appreciate, you have explained every step in a way that we could understand with ease, having had no experience in such a claim before.” Mrs N.