Overview
- Northern Ireland will introduce the GDL scheme on 1 October 2026 under a new road safety strategy announced by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins.
- Learner drivers must complete a minimum six‑month learning period and a mandatory training programme recorded in a logbook before taking the practical test.
- After passing, motorists enter a 24‑month restricted period with an ‘R’ plate, and newly qualified drivers are permitted to use motorways up to the posted speed limit.
- For the first six months post‑test, drivers under 24 face night‑time limits and may carry only one passenger aged 14–20 between 11pm and 6am, with exemptions for immediate family members.
- The Department for Infrastructure will run an information campaign and coordinate with approved instructors and the PSNI, which has publicly welcomed the reforms as life‑saving.