New Driver NI programme empowering young people to make safer choices

The New Driver NI programme has launched for the 2026/27 academic year bringing life-saving road safety education to 32,000 young people across Northern Ireland, with more than 100 post-primary schools across the region set to engage with the programme.

The launch comes at a significant moment, following the introduction of Northern Ireland’s new Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system, which takes a phased approach to learning and gaining driving experience, with the aim of improving road safety among new drivers particularly those aged 17-23.

The New Driver Programme aims to help students understand the new arrangements while also highlighting the wider responsibilities of both drivers and passengers. Going beyond the practical skills required to gain a driving licence, the programme encourages young people to recognise the importance of making safe and responsible decisions on every journey. It addresses issues such as speeding, driver distraction, drink and drug driving, seatbelt use and peer pressure.

The programme also places equal emphasis on the important role passengers can play in encouraging young people to avoid distractions, wear seatbelts and speak up when they feel unsafe. Under the message “Passengers: Find your voice”, it empowers young people to challenge risky behaviour and recognise that speaking up, whether asking a driver to slow down or put away their phone, can help prevent collisions and save lives.

Davy Jackson, Chair of Road Safe NI Charity which runs the programme said, “Through the New Driver NI Programme, we want to encourage open and honest conversations, challenge behaviours that put lives at risk and empower young people to make safer decisions, both now and throughout their driving lives. It encourages students to consider how everyday choices, such as checking a mobile phone, travelling with someone who has been drinking or failing to wear a seatbelt, can have consequences far beyond the vehicle. By tackling these issues, we want to give the next generation the knowledge, confidence and awareness to make better choices that create a safer road environment for everyone.”

The programme is supported by CRASH Services ab&c insurance, JMK Solicitors and UsedCars NI alongside local Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs).

For more information, visit: www.newdriverni.com