Calls For Stricter Rules On New Drivers After Teenager Killed In West Sussex Crash

A coroner has called for tighter rules for newly qualified young drivers after a teenager died in a crash near Chichester.

Paul Green suffered fatal head injuries when the car he was travelling in hit a tree on Emsworth Common Road in Westbourne on 27 November 2024.

An inquest heard the vehicle was being driven by a 17-year-old who had only recently passed her driving test.

Assistant coroner Gareth Jones said the driver’s inexperience likely contributed to her losing control while negotiating a bend.

He also noted that Paul was not wearing a seat belt, which may have been a factor in his death. Three other teenagers in the car were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Following the hearing, the coroner urged the Department for Transport to consider changes aimed at preventing similar tragedies, raising concerns that newly qualified 17-year-olds can drive anywhere in the UK without supervision.

In response, the Department for Transport said it would not introduce blanket restrictions on new drivers, but would instead focus on improving preparation before the driving test as part of its upcoming road safety strategy.