Tougher laws on unlicensed drivers to be considered after Sky News report

Sky News

04-02-2025

Why you can trust Sky News
The government will look to introduce tougher laws on unlicensed drivers as part of its forthcoming road safety strategy, Sky News understands.
It comes after Sky News reported on the story of Harry Parker, who was just 14-years-old when he was hit and killed by a car on his way to his Swindon school in November 2022.
The driver of the car did not have a licence, insurance, or stop at the scene.
But two years after Harry's death, the Crown Prosecution Service told his parents it was dropping the charges.
It said: "We examined this case in great detail - including obtaining the advice of a forensic collision expert - and it has become clear that there is not enough evidence to demonstrate that this collision could reasonably have been avoided, and therefore that the driving was careless."
His parents' local MP, Will Stone, received permission from the Commons on Tuesday to introduce the Road Traffic (unlicensed drivers) Bill, that he referred to in his speech in the chamber as the "Harry Parker Bill".
The bill would make causing death while driving without a licence or insurance a specific criminal offence after previous legislation became effectively redundant.
Labour MP Mr Stone made a speech setting out the case for changing the law in parliament on Tuesday as part of a Ten Minute Rule Bill - a motion to seek MPs' permission to introduce a bill to make the case for a new law.
"The law in its current form is failing," he said. "A person who does not hold a valid license has no business being behind the wheel of a car. And when they do so, they put lives at risk.
"I cannot bring back Harry, nor can I give Adam and Kelly the justice that they deserve. No legislation, no speech, no court ruling will ever be able to ease their pain. What we must do is ensure that no other family has to endure what they have been through.
"The Harry Parker Bill seeks to close the dangerous gaps in our legal system and impose real world consequences on those who choose to drive without a license. Those who choose to drive without a valid license will be deemed careless."
MPs voted to progress the bill to be debated as part of the next stage of the parliamentary process.
It is rare for a backbench Ten Minute Rule Bill to become legislation. But Sky News now understands the government is going to adopt the Harry Parker Bill as part of its forthcoming new Road Safety Strategy.
Harry's parents, Adam and Kelly Parker, travelled to Westminster to watch the Ten Minute Rule Bill from the public gallery.
"It was a bit surreal," said Mr Parker. "When he actually read it out I just started crying, I welled up. It made it very, very real, how far we're actually taking this, and it showed that people are actually really listening. It's comforting."
There is no current national data on the number of unlicensed drivers, though past research by the Department for Transport estimated they commit 9.3% - or nearly 1 in 10 - of all motoring offences. It was thought there could be as many as 470,000 on the roads.
In 2006, the Labour government introduced a new offence of causing death while driving without a licence or insurance, punishable by up to two years in prison.
But in 2013 the Supreme Court ruled that, due to the way the legislation was worded, prosecutors still had to prove the driving was at fault - thus rendering the new law fairly redundant, as a driver could then be charged by careless or dangerous driving.
The judges were concerned about otherwise faultless unlicensed drivers being charged if a drunk pedestrian fell into the road in front of them, or if someone attempted suicide by jumping out into the road.
The Department of Transport said: "Every death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Harry Parker.