The Department for Infrastructure has made a Statutory Rule entitled “the Road Traffic (Amendment) (2016 Act) (Commencement No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026” (S.R. 2026 No. 125 (C. 5)) under section 26(1) of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.

This Order will introduce graduated driver licensing and will be facilitated by the making of four Statutory Rules which will become operative on the same date (1st October 2026) The Order brings into operation on 1st October 2026 sections 16, 17 (partially), 18, 19 and section 24 and Schedule 1 (partially) and section 25 and Schedule 2 (partially) of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.

Section 16 introduces a mandatory minimum learning period (MMLP) of 6 months meaning that a learner driver cannot sit their practical test until at least six months after their provisional licence date of entitlement to drive a Category B vehicle. There are some exemptions and MMLP will not apply to motorcyclists. The 2016 Act does not require a minimum number of lessons or hours training. Effectively, the learner may take as long as they wish to complete each module within the Programme. There is no requirement to take paid lessons.

Section 17 (partially) requires learner drivers and riders to complete a Programme of Training. This training must be completed and recorded in a Logbook before a learner driver / rider can sit their practical test. The Logbook is completed by the learner and verified by an Approved Driving/Motorcycle Instructor or a qualified driver as defined in the 2016 Act. Section 17 also makes it an offence to forge, alter or misuse a logbook.

Sections 18 empowers the Department to revoke a licence and require the person to surrender it following a conviction for an offence of forging, altering or misusing a logbook. It will also be an offence to fail to surrender a licence if it has been revoked as a result of a conviction for such an offence.

Section 19 removes the current 45mph speed limit for new and learner drivers. It also extends the current 12-month restricted period, where a new driver must display R plates, to a 24 month ‘new driver’ period. It also introduces post-test passenger carrying restrictions for the first six months, new drivers aged 17-23 will be restricted from carrying more than one passenger aged 14-20 between the hours of 11pm and 6 am. It also provides limited exceptions for family members. It also provides police with the powers to ask the driver or passengers for the names, addresses, ages and relationship to the driver of any passengers. Failure of the driver to provide such details, if so requested by the police, will be an offence.

Section 24 and Schedule 1 (partially) contain transitional provisions which provide that the requirements of section 16 (MMLP) and 17 (completion of Logbook) shall not apply for a period of 6 months to a person whose provisional licence entitlement commenced before 1st October 2026.

Section 25 and Schedule 2 (partially) contain for the repeals to facilitate graduated driver licensing.

Copies of the Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0333 202 5070 or viewed online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.