Young%20Drivers

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Young Drivers

• Presented by

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Young Drivers

• Almost 3,000 under 25 yrs killed or seriously
  injured
• 1 in 5 crash within 1 year of passing test
• 38,800 deaths and injuries in crashes involving
  drivers of less than 2 years experience
• 1 in 3 young male drivers crash within 2 years of
  passing their test
• An 18 year old driver is more than 3 times more
  likely to crash than a 48 year old

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Young Drivers

• In 2005
• 195 passengers and 88 pedestrians killed in
  crashes involving 17 20 year old drivers or
  riders
• 148 passengers and 93 pedestrians killed in
  crashes involving 21 25 year old drivers or
  riders

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Why Young Drivers?

• Age
• Lack of Experience
• Over Confidence
• Poor Hazard Perception
• Speed
• Peer Group Pressure
• Parental Influence

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Lack of Experience

• This is one of the main causes of accidents among
  young drivers. As experience grows so the
  accident level falls.
• Key Periods for Young Drivers
• Before Starting to Drive
• During the Learning Period
• After the Test

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Before Starting to Drive

• Parents provide almost 2 decades of informal
  driving lessons
• Driving habits of parents influence driving
  behaviour of their children when they become
  drivers
• Refresher training - child starting to learn to
  drive is perfect time for parent to take
  refresher training
• Read the Highway Code

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The Learning Period

• Maximise amount, type quality of driving
• Professional Lessons
• Private Practice
• Around 2/3 of learners take private practice
• Both ADI Parents have crucial roles

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After the Test

• Risk skyrockets after test driving experience
  (hours
• behind the wheel) gradually reduces risk
• Pass Plus
• Parent/Driver Agreements
• Peer Groups, e.g, BRAG

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Attitude

• Young drivers, especially men, are over confident
  and often make risky manoeuvres, including
• Driving to fast
• Driving to close to the vehicle in front
• Dangerous overtaking
• Young drivers consistently rate their performance
  as above average
• Good driving is considered to be the ability to
  handle the car at high speeds

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Hazard Perception

• Young drivers often have excellent vehicle
  control skills and fast reactions.
• But often poor at identifying potential hazards
  and assessing risk. Young drivers tend to
  overestimate their abilities.
• It takes new drivers up to 2 seconds longer to
  react to hazardous situations than a more
  experienced driver.

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Peer Pressure

• Young drivers, especially men, who carry
  passengers are more likely to have a crash
• Showing off to friends
• Encouraged by friends
• Freedom of driving

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Gender

• Young male drivers have a higher accident rate
  than their female counterparts
• Also more likely to commit driving offences
• A result of some of the factors outlined
  previously

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Penalty Points

• Young drivers are allowed fewer penalty points
• If they receive 6 points within 2 years of their
  first test their licence is revoked
• They must go through the entire learning to drive
  process again if this happens

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Making Young Drivers Safe

• The Pass Plus Scheme helps young drivers to gain
  increased experience of driving in different
  conditions. Taking this course can also lead to
  decreases in insurance costs
• Safe driving agreement. An agreement between the
  young driver and parents that the family car can
  only be used if certain conditions are met

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PARENTS INFLUENCE AFTER TEST

• New drivers often use parents car or parents
  help finance new drivers car
• RoSPA survey 25 new drivers subject to
  parental restrictions.
• 53 of those not subject to restrictions would
  not object to negotiating some with parents
• Parent/Teen Contracts popular in USA

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Making Young Drivers Safe

• Limit driving at night. The majority of young
  driver accidents occur at night. Agree that the
  young driver cannot use the car at night
• Limit the number of passengers. Agree to only
  have one or two passengers in the car until the
  driver has gained more experience

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Making Young Drivers Safe

• Ask the young driver to stick to a zero limit on
  drink and drugs for the first year of driving.
  Ask them not to get a lift with anyone who has
  been drinking or taken drugs
• Discuss with the young driver the dangers of
  speeding. Outline that different situations, such
  as icy roads, need a slower speed

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Making Young Drivers Safe

• Discuss the danger of distractions such as using
  mobile phones, load music and eating whilst
  driving to ensure they understand the danger of
  being distracted
• Stress the importance of passengers travelling
  safely. Agree that the young driver can only
  carry passengers if they wear seatbelts

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Making Young Drivers Safe

• Agree to use green P plates to make other
  drivers aware there is an inexperienced driver at
  the wheel.

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HELP PARENTS TO HELP LEARNERS

• DSA Guide
• www.helpingLdrivers.com
• Practical Training

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PARENTS

1. Help parents set good example refresher
   training
2. Help parents to help their children learn to
   drive Training Resources
3. Help parents influence young driver after test

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Conclusion

• Most vulnerable group of drivers. Lack
  experience, attitude issues, poor hazard
  perception, peer pressure and gender issues
• Help young drivers by Pass Plus, make a safe
  driving agreement. Can also limit driving at
  night and number of passengers. Enforce a zero
  drink limit, discuss dangers and use P plates

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• When travelling with your son or daughter, let
  them drive to increase their experience. Offer
  constructive advice, but dont be a back seat
  driver!