The AA says young drivers should be banned from carrying passengers of the same age for six months after passing their test and displaying plates with a ‘G’ for graduate.

Following calls from the grieving mother of a student who died in a road accident with three young friends, the AA has backed graduated driving licensing for under-21s.

Hugo Morris, 18, who passed his test six months earlier, led his friends Harvey Owen, 17, Wilfred Fitchett, 17, and Jevon Hirst, 16, on a camping trip in North Wales last November when the accident occurred.

An investigation last week revealed how Hugo approached a “poorly signed” 90-degree bend too quickly, understeered and lost control in heavy rain. Although they were all unhurt, they drowned after the car came to rest upside down in a flooded ditch.

Harvey’s mother, Crystal, is calling for a change in the law.

A coroner has called on the Government to impose legal restrictions on young and newly qualified drivers after four teenagers were killed in a crash in north Wales. Jevon Hirst, 16, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Hugo Morris, 18, died in a crash on November 19 last year.

Crystal Owen, Harvey’s mother, calls for law change

As part of its phased licensing proposals, the AA also wants under-21s to be given six penalty points if they fail to wear a seat belt in the first six months after passing their exam. It estimates that progressive licensing – already used in the United States, Canada, Australia and Sweden – would save at least 58 lives and prevent 934 people from being seriously injured in accidents each year.

AA chief executive Jakob Pfaudler said: “Progressive driving licensing has been proven in other countries to significantly reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads.

“We are calling on the Transport Secretary to make simple, pragmatic changes to the licensing process so young people are better protected during their first months of independent driving.”

Harvey’s mother told the Daily Mail she was “pleased” that the AA supported graduated licensing, adding: “If these deaths were happening in such large numbers through knife crime or murder, there would be an outcry, but unfortunately road deaths seem to be accepted.” .’

In 2019, the Department for Transport (DfT) said it was considering introducing graduated licensing in England. This measure was later abandoned, partly due to its potential impact on youth employment.

Following last week’s inquest, North West Wales Senior Coroner Kate Robertson raised concerns about young drivers carrying passengers.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “While we are not considering graduated driving licensing, we absolutely recognize that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads, and we are considering further measures to resolve this problem and protect young drivers.”