BBC Breakfast presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay led an emotional discussion on road safety this week, hosting a mother whose campaign for stricter rules for new drivers follows a profound personal tragedy.
A Mother's Campaign Born from Loss
Sharon Huddleston appeared on the BBC One programme on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, to share the story of her daughter, Caitlin. The 18-year-old was killed as a passenger in a car accident in 2017. Sharon revealed that the coroner had formally attributed Caitlin's death to the inexperience of the newly qualified driver behind the wheel.
This devastating finding has fuelled Sharon's determined campaign for the introduction of graduated driving licences (GDLs) across England and Wales. Under such a scheme, newly qualified drivers would face restrictions, such as limits on carrying young passengers, until they gain more on-road experience.
Government Strategy: A Step Forward, But Not Far Enough
The interview coincided with the government's launch of a new road safety strategy. Presenter Sally Nugent outlined a key proposal: learner drivers in England and Wales could face a mandatory wait of up to six months between passing their theory test and taking their practical driving test.
While acknowledging this as positive progress after a 14-year gap in a formal strategy, Sharon Huddleston argued the plans do not go far enough. "It's great that we've got a road safety strategy... and it's also good news that young drivers are being addressed," she stated. "But I don't think it goes far enough."
She emphasised that the six-month learning period was a good measure, but her focus remains on what happens after the test is passed. "The element I am passionate about... is the passenger safety precaution," Sharon explained. "That's the element I would have liked to have seen addressed in the strategy as well."
The Key Demand: Post-Test Restrictions
Co-presenter Jon Kay clarified the distinction, noting the strategy enforces a longer learning period, while campaigners like Sharon want restrictions for after qualification. Sharon was unequivocal about the potential impact of GDLs, stating: "If this element of the safety precaution of passengers was in place in 2017, my daughter would be alive."
She expressed frustration that this law has been campaigned for "for decades," but she only learned of it after Caitlin's death. Sally Nugent underscored the coroner's critical finding, summarising: "It was simple inexperience that contributed to this terrible tragedy."
The segment highlighted the ongoing tension between incremental government policy and the urgent demands of bereaved families and road safety advocates pushing for a graduated driving licence system to prevent further loss of young lives.
