THE GOVERNMENT is set to debate proposals to introduce restrictions on newly qualified drivers aged 17 to 19, following a petition launched by a bereaved mother whose son was among four teenagers killed in a crash in North Wales.

The calls for change have intensified after a coroner raised concerns over young drivers carrying passengers, warning that similar tragedies could continue unless stricter regulations are introduced.

Coroner warns of risks in wake of inquest findings

Hugo Morris, 18, Harvey Owen, 17, Wilf Fitchett, 17, and Jevon Hirst, 16, were killed in November 2023 when their car came off a rural road on a bend and overturned into a water-filled ditch in Gwynedd.

The inquest heard that the car, a silver Ford Fiesta, was being driven by Morris, who had passed his driving test just six months earlier. Evidence from a forensic collision investigator suggested he lost control while navigating the bend “a little bit too quickly,” causing the vehicle to understeer. The crash site was not visible from the road, and the wreckage was only discovered two days later by a refuse truck passenger.

Senior coroner for North West Wales, Kate Robertson, said she would write to the Department for Transport and the DVLA to raise concerns about young, newly qualified drivers being allowed to carry passengers, warning that without action, more deaths could occur.

The cause of death for all four teenagers was recorded as drowning, and post-mortem examinations confirmed none of them suffered any significant injuries in the crash itself.

Families demand changes to driving laws

Speaking outside court, Harvey Owen’s mother, Crystal, said her son had been “let down by an outdated driving licence system.” She has been leading a campaign for the introduction of a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system, which would prevent newly qualified drivers from carrying passengers under 25 unless accompanied by an older adult.

Her petition, launched last year, has now surpassed 100,000 signatures, requiring the government to debate the issue in Parliament.

Owen said that her son had been driven on an unfamiliar rural road by a young driver without her knowledge, and that restrictions on newly qualified drivers could have prevented the tragedy.

Wilf Fitchett’s mother, Heather Sanderson, said she and other parents had felt reassured because the driver had passed his test. She added that, at the time, she believed their decision to allow the trip was reasonable, based on the information they had.

Crash investigator says collision was “avoidable”

The inquest heard that there were no mechanical faults with the vehicle, no evidence of dangerous road conditions, and no history of previous serious crashes at the location. North Wales Police forensic collision investigator, Ian Thompson, concluded that the crash had been avoidable.

Thompson calculated that the maximum theoretical speed for safely navigating the bend was 38mph, but after driving the road himself, he said he only felt comfortable taking the turn at 26mph.

Following the crash, additional road signage and chevrons were installed, but a broken fence—damaged in a previous crash—had still not been replaced. The coroner said this would be included in a prevention of future deaths report.

Debate over restricting young drivers

Owen and other bereaved families argue that introducing a GDL system could reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries among young drivers. The campaign group Forget Me Not Families Uniting, which includes more than 150 families affected by similar tragedies, is backing the proposed changes.

Research shows that one in five newly qualified drivers crashes within their first year, with the risk increasing when they carry peer-age passengers. Campaigners say restricting young drivers’ ability to carry passengers could prevent hundreds of deaths each year.

However, critics argue that such measures would limit young people’s independence and mobility. Owen, responding to these concerns, said that while people may worry about restricting freedom, her son’s freedom “has been taken away forever.”

With the petition reaching the required number of signatures, the government is now set to debate the issue in Parliament.

Tragically died: Clockwise from top left: Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen, Hugo Morris and Wilf Fitchett. (Picture: North Wales Police)