Support continues to grow for new driving licence rules which would see restrictions placed on certain motorists.

Alison Lowe, deputy mayor for policing and crime in West Yorkshire, has thrown her support behind a new scheme to restrict younger drivers from performing certain tasks.

The Graduated Driving Licence scheme has grown in popularity in recent years as road safety experts highlight that changes need to be made to support all motorists.

These new rules could see road users who have recently passed their practical driving test face new restrictions under these plans, typically impacting younger motorists.

Support continues to grow for new licence changes to improve road safety

These could include a ban on same-age passengers for the first year of being behind the wheel, as well as a curfew, which may restrict them from driving between 11pm and 5am.

The proposals aim to help younger motorists gain confidence behind the wheel without any distractions to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the road.

The Labour deputy mayor has met with people who lost their loved ones, before calling on the Government to introduce new rules to crack down on drivers who may be more reckless.

Lowe's sister Debbie was killed by a speeding driver on Roundhay Road in Leeds 60 years ago when Debbie was just three years old.

Alison Lowe met with bereaved families in Leeds to unveil a memorial plaque

She said that "a big change is needed" and that the GDL has been proven to work in countries around the world by boosting road safety for all motorists.

Graduated Driving Licences are already used in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, parts of the United States, Finland, Norway, Sweden, France and Northern Ireland.

Lowe, who was previously a Leeds city councillor for Armley for 29 years, has also supported the West Yorkshire Vision Zero campaign, which looks to end all road deaths and serious injuries in the county by 2040.

Lowe met with bereaved relatives in Park Square, Leeds, to unveil a memorial for Alice Greenwood, Alice O'Neill, Debbie Dunstain and Mary Harrison, all of whom were killed by speeding drivers.

The victims' families said: "The ongoing impact and devastation of the death of a loved one in these circumstances cannot adequately be put into words.

"We want to do everything in our power to prevent it from happening to anyone else. Graduated Driving Licences offer one such opportunity, backing their introduction is an easy decision."

Lowe added: "Five of us gathered at the memorial, the same number of people that needlessly die every day on UK roads.

"We’re far from alone in calling for GDL, and it's time Government acts on the advice of victims, road safety experts, charities and local leaders."

The bereaved families said Graduated Driving Licences will save lives

The Department for Transport's THINK! campaign is one measure being used to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured, with particular focus on men aged between 17 and 24.

A spokesperson for the DfT told GB News: "Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the families of everyone who has lost a loved one in this way.

"Whilst we are not considering Graduated Driving Licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads.

"We are exploring options to tackle the root causes of this without unfairly penalising young drivers."