Bright Young Things On The Road To Ruin?

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS ONTHEROAD TORUIN? Young drivers (17-24) are at a higher risk of crashing than older drivers. They make up 1.5% of UK licence holders but are involved in 12% of fatal and serious crashes. In 2011 22% of car accidents where personal injury was reported involved at least one young driver. One in four 18-24 year olds crash within two years of passing their driving test MALE DRIVERS ARE INVOLVEDINMORE CRASHES THAN FEMALE DRIVERS SPEEDING ISKNOWN TOBE AKEYCONTRIBUTORY FACTOR INCRASHES INVOLVING YOUNG DRIVERS IN THE UK REASONS WHY YOUNG DRIVERS AREMORE AT RISK Most 68% of Inexperience (less likely to spot hazards) accidents accidents (57%) Youth (more likely to take risks) with young drivers happened in urban areas with young people happened on roads with speeds limits of 40mph or under. Over confidence ONLY 4% OF ACCIDENTS HAPPENED ON MOTORWAYS (THE SAME FIGURE AS DRIVERS OVER 25 YEARS OLD). Drivers in their 20s have the highest rates of both drink and drug driving crashes and young drivers who crash are twice as likely to be impaired by alcohol as older drivers who crash. 4% of young drivers had impaired by alcohol as a contributory factor to their accident compared to 2% of older drivers. YOUNG DRIVERS ARE FOUR TIMES MORELIKELY TODIE IN A CRASH while carrying passengers than when driving alone. This indicates that it is peer pressure that raises the risk. But 62% less likely to crash when carrying an older adult passenger. The most common time for between young drivers to crash is in the evening and early mornings. 2am and 5am While male drivers aged 17-20 are 7 times more likely to crash than other male drivers, their risk is 17 TIMES HIGHER! Sources Brake, Transport Research Laboratory, Department for Transport, The AA, Journal of Adolescent Health 2014, Gov.uk For more information: Call 24/7 on 0800 689 0500 or from your mobile 0333 500 0993 or you can visit www.accidentadvicehelpline.co.uk accident advice helpline