Motorists across Guernsey have been warned of stricter driving licence rules after new laws came into effect aimed at cracking down on dangerous and drug-related driving.
Guernsey's Parliament approved changes to driving licence regulations, which will impose tougher requirements on motorists convicted of the most serious road offences.
Under the new rules, any motorist whose licence has been revoked will now need to retake their driving test before they are allowed back on the road.
The changes were approved by the States of Deliberation through the Driving Licences (Guernsey) (Amendment) Ordinance, which updates legislation that had largely remained unchanged since 1995.
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Previously, only new drivers faced a compulsory retest if they gained six penalty points within their first two years of having a licence.
Under the updated law, that requirement has been extended to cover motorists convicted of serious offences whose licences are taken away.
People found guilty of dangerous driving and who have their licences revoked will now have to pass a full driving test again and provide a pass certificate before being allowed to drive, including on UK roads.
The amendments follow the introduction of new hazardous driving and drug-driving offences, which were first approved by the States in February 2024. A wider package of road traffic laws was then agreed at a meeting in March 2025.
Previously, only newly qualified drivers needed to retake their test if they obtained more than six penalty points
| X/GETTYAlthough the ordinance was formally brought forward by the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure, it was originally developed and agreed upon by the former Committee for Home Affairs.
The changes apply to offences listed in Schedule 1 of the original 1995 driving licence ordinance. This schedule includes the most serious criminal driving offences, which carry the harshest penalties for motorists.
The updated list now includes offences such as causing death through dangerous driving, as well as deaths caused by careless or inconsiderate driving.
Motorists who cause serious injury through dangerous driving or through careless behaviour will also be required to retake their driving test if their licence is revoked.
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The new rules hope to crack down on dangerous driving across Guernsey
| DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICEDrug-driving offences have been specifically included. The legislation covers drivers who drive, attempt to drive, or are in charge of a vehicle while over the legal limit for certain controlled substances.
The offence of dangerous driving itself, as defined under the Road Traffic (Guernsey) Ordinance 2019, has also been added to the schedule for offences committed after the new amendment comes into force.
Deputy Marc Leadbeater, President of the Committee for Home Affairs, told the assembly that the ordinance simply expands the list of offences that trigger a mandatory retest.
He described the changes as "straightforward" and said the issue had been identified after a question raised by former Deputy Heidi Soulsby ahead of the March 2025 debate.
Drivers who have their licence revoked for drink driving will have to retake their test under new rules
| GETTYDeputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said the update was long overdue, calling it "very sorely needed".
She praised the previous Home Affairs Committee for prioritising the work and acknowledged that concerns had been raised by at least one member of the public.
Deputy de Sausmarez suggested that a future sentencing review could address some of the issues raised in that representation.
The changes form part of a wider programme of road safety reforms that Guernsey's Parliament has been rolling out since early 2024, as politicians seek to tighten enforcement and improve standards on the island's roads.