A coroner is calling for tighter rules around young new drivers after a fatal crash in West Sussex involving a 17-year-old who had only recently passed her test.
Paul Green, 16, died from head injuries after the car he was travelling in left the road, hit a tree and rolled onto its roof at Emsworth Common on 27 November 2024. In the published Prevention of Future Deaths report, Assistant Coroner Gareth Jones said the driver’s inexperience likely contributed to the crash. The report also says Paul was not wearing a seat belt, which may have contributed to his death.
Why the coroner is concerned
The coroner said evidence heard at the inquest suggested that carrying other teenagers in the car can be a factor in some collisions involving young drivers. He also raised concern that a 17-year-old can pass the driving test and then legally drive anywhere in the UK, including on motorways, without adult supervision.
That will sound familiar to many instructors. Passing the test is one milestone, but it does not remove the risks linked to inexperience, peer pressure, poor judgement and limited exposure to different road conditions.
Where government policy currently stands
The Department for Transport has said it will not introduce blanket restrictions on new drivers. Instead, it says its focus is on improving preparation before the practical test. That sits alongside the government’s current consultation on introducing a minimum learning period, with options including a three or six month gap between theory and practical tests, plus possible supervised hours and a more structured learning route.
The coroner’s report was sent to the Department for Transport on 12 March 2026, and a response is due by 7 May 2026. This story follows BBC News coverage published on 18 March 2026 and the Judiciary’s published report into Paul Green’s death.
