AQW 35616/22-27

Mr Peter McReynolds
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 17/11/2025
Answered On Date: 11/12/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on (i) the progress of subordinate legislation, following the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, to introduce the Graduated Driver Licensing; and (ii) when it is expected to be introduced.

Answer:

The statutory framework for the introduction of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is set out in Part 3 of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 and will require a suite of subordinate legislation to give if effect. Drafting of a commencement Order and three sets of Regulations, one of which will require Assembly debate, is advancing at pace.

These Statutory Rules will provide for motorway driving for new and learner drivers, revised restrictions for newly qualified drivers, an approved programme of training and the production of a driver logbook. It will be important that the Order and the new subordinate legislation required come into force simultaneously.

Significant operational planning and development of the digital solution required to support delivery of the programme of training and logbook is also progressing well.

I expect to announce the anticipated date for the introduction of GDL shortly.