F&I Management & Training

The driving public - including under-25s - has spoken out in favour of a minimum learning to drive period to tackle young driver crashes, as is currently being considered by government. A survey by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line out today reveals 84% of drivers agree we need a minimum learning period, while even 69% of drivers under 25 are in favour.

Brake is also calling for post-test restrictions on novice drivers, such as a zero tolerance drink drive limit and a bar on late night driving and carrying mates. (See below for evidence underpinning these calls.)

The survey of 1,000 drivers by Brake and Direct Line also found:

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, the road safety charity, said: "The government has an opportunity to make a real difference to road safety and save a lot of young lives through reforming our driver licensing system. Death and serious injury on roads is devastating, especially so when it involves someone young, with their whole life ahead of them. Evidence on how to reduce young driver crashes is very clear; by introducing a system of graduated licensing we can expect to make real inroads to ending the devastation caused by young driver crashes. We're calling on government to take bold steps by introducing all elements of graduated licensing - including a minimum learning period and post-test licence restrictions - but without compromising safety by simultaneously introducing changes that would increase risk, such as a lower minimum driving age."

Gus Park, commercial director at Direct Line, said: "Young drivers make up only one in eight licence holders, but are involved in crashes that result in one in five road deaths and serious injuries. We believe that these statistics can be changed substantially through the implementation of graduated driver licensing. It would have a positive effect on the driving behaviour and habits of young people, particularly in the critical period just after passing their test, and more importantly, reduce catastrophic road crashes and save lives."

Facts
Traffic is the biggest killer of young people in Britain aged 15 - 24 [1]. Young drivers are also involved in a disproportionately high number of crashes that kill and injure road users of all ages. Young drivers (age 17-24) are involved in crashes that result in one in five road deaths and serious injuries (20%) - 13 deaths and serious injuries every day [2] - despite only making up one in eight (12%) licence holders [3]. Young drivers are more likely to crash because a combination of age and inexperience make them more likely to take risks on roads the younger they are, and less able to handle those risks because of a lack of experience [4].

Graduated licencing includes a minimum learning period, and post qualification restrictions for a period, such as a zero tolerance drink drive limit, a bar on having young friends as passengers and restrictions on late night driving other than for work or education. Evidence shows these are situations in which novice drivers are particularly at risk [5].

Where graduated driver licensing has been introduced elsewhere in the world, it has had a big impact on casualty reduction [6]. Research has shown that in the UK a system of graduated driver licensing would prevent 200 deaths and thousands of injuries each year [7].

Reducing the age at which you can get a provisional licence would negatively impact upon safety gains from introducing a minimum learning to drive period. This is because the younger you are when you can drive independently, the greater your risk of crashing [8].

Read more about Brake's Too young to die campaign.
Read Brake's advice for young people.

Case study
Rachel Blacklidge, 19, from Preston, was driving home at 11.30pm on 23 February 2013. She had only passed her test two months before on January 4. She picked up her cousin and two friends to go for a drive, as they often did.

Rachel was travelling at 55mph on a 60mph road, when she lost control on a bend, crashing through a bush and two fences before the vehicle rolled over. One passenger's head was pushed through the closed window by the force of the crash, leaving him with cuts to his head. Rachel's cousin suffered cuts on her arms, while her other friend injured his elbow. Rachel herself suffered severe whiplash, a spinal injury, torn ligaments and cuts. The car was written off. They were lucky to survive.

Rachel said: "The crash has left me traumatised - I can't believe I put my friends in so much danger. Just because a road sign says 60 doesn't mean you have to go at 60 or that it's safe to do so. It's so easy not to see something or judge something wrong, especially when you're a new driver and not used to the road. Now I feel very strongly about informing young drivers about road safety. We're lucky to have survived with only minimal injuries; many other young people aren't so lucky."

DATED: 20.05.13

FEED: HA