Young Drivers Accident Risk Warning

RESEARCH commissioned by the RAC Foundation and carried out by transport research laboratory TRL has found that teenage drivers are involved in almost one in eight road accidents involving injury.

Based on nationwide statistics covering five years 2008 to 2012, the survey showed that 11.9% of all road casualties were injured or killed in collisions involving a car driver aged 17-19.

This was despite those aged between 17 and 19 making up only 1.5% of licensed drivers.

TRL also made a conservative estimate of what the reduction in casualties would be if a system of graduated driving licensing (GDL) was introduced. GDL schemes typically place temporary restrictions on newly-qualified young drivers in the first few months after they pass their tests.

Based on the experience of countries where GDL is in operation, TRL concluded that across Britain about 4,500 fewer people would be hurt in an average year. This includes about 430 people who would otherwise have been killed or seriously injured.

The RAC Foundation said that currently one in five young drivers will have an accident within six months of passing their test.

Novice young drivers are at particular risk because of both their lack of experience (which affects new drivers of all ages to some degree) and the biological and behavioural characteristics of youth.

By Press Association reporters