The main risks for young drivers
One side of the Graduated Driver's Licence debate is that some feel it unfairly restricts young people. However, campaigners feel that independence should outweigh the high risks facing young new drivers.
In 2024, 4,740 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes involving at least one younger car driver on Britain's roads.
This included 1,003 passengers of younger drivers, 1,376 young drivers themselves and 2,360 other road users - including pedestrians, cyclists and occupants of other vehicles.
Broken down into three different types: psychological, behavioural and environmental, are factors contribute to the increase of young people being involved in collisions.
psychological Factors
Brain Development
In the UK, a 17-year-old is able to pass their driving test, enabling teenagers to make solo trips on the roads. At this age, the brain is still not fully developed, compounded by inexperience. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control, doesn't develop until the mid-twenties.
The emotional response also isn't fully developed until the mid-20s, impacting a young person's ability to understand the consequences of decisions made, impacting the ability to understand the consequences of a decision. This is the limbic region of the brain.
As a result, younger drivers may be more likely to make dangerous decisions behind the wheel.
Gender Differences
A "racerboy" stereotype is often spoken about when linked to car crashes. However,
young male drivers make up 80% of young driver fatalities and are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the road than drivers aged 25 years or older. Reckless behaviour shown by some male drivers could be linked to peer pressure and misrepresentation of men. It has also been linked to studies on brain development, leading to a heightened inclination to act impulsively when driving.
Behavioural factors
Driver inexperience and risky behaviours
In their first year of driving, one in five drivers is involved in a car crash. Often, young drivers may take more risks in their first year on the road to compensate for inexperience, alongside poor assessments of road safety hazards, making them more likely to be involved in a crash.
Speeding
Often, young drivers may drive too fast as they don't understand the risk associated with speeding, as a crash can occur due to a delayed response to controlling a vehicle. This is a key factor towards young drivers being involved in crashes in the UK. Young men are more likely to be involved in a crash caused by speed than young female drivers.
A survey conducted by Brake found that 57% of young drivers liked to drive at the highest speed at which they could maintain control of the vehicle.
Drink driving
Drivers in their 20s self-report as having the highest rate of driving when over the drink-drive limit of all age groups. In Great Britain, young adults aged 16 - 24 account for 24% of drink driving cases. The legal blood alcohol limit in the UK is 80mg per 100ml of blood. Some campaigners feel there should be a ban on drinking for young people as they are overrepresented in this category.
Mobile phone use
Due to inexperience, young drivers have to concentrate more with their eyes on the road. They may be more distracted by the sound of a text due to this. In 2019, there were 18 fatalities and 147 serious injuries in road traffic crashes where a driver using a mobile phone was a contributory factor in the crash. If caught using a mobile phone whilst driving, this will result in six points on your licence as well as a fine.
This would result in a new driver having their driving licence revoked (if caught withing two years of passing their test).
Research by the comparison website, GoCompare, found that 58% of 18 to 24-year-olds admitted to using their phone while driving, despite knowing it is illegal, compared to 34% of all drivers.
environmental factors
Night-Time Driving
Due to darkness, many young drivers are at risk because of their inability to spot hazards. In 2019, 37% of young driver fatalities and serious injuries occurred between 9 pm and 6 am. This could be linked to why insurance is so high when you have just passed your test. Many drivers may have a black box which restricts the hours they can drive due to many crashes taking place in the dark.
Road Conditions
Many young drivers do not have experience in harsh weather conditions and poor surface conditions. In 2018, driving instructors were able to take learner drivers on motorways to hopefully teach students the dangers of high-speed driving, which is a contributor to crashes for young people.
Sharp bends and blind spots are also a risk for young motorists.
Rural roads
Many rural roads have a higher speed limit than some roads in more urbanised areas. There are more bends and a narrow track too. In 2019, 73% of young car driver fatalities occurred on rural roads, slightly lower than the 79% proportion for all car drivers.
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