Call for action to cut young driver deaths

Graduated driving licenses could cut fatal accidents among young drivers by more than half, according to new research by motor research charity RAC Foundation.

The foundation is backing the introduction of a graduated licensing system for new drivers, including restrictions on night time driving and numbers of passengers.

The research looks at several countries with graduated licensing schemes in operation, including New Zealand, Canada, America and Australia, and shows that fatal collisions for young drivers fall by between 9%-60% and overall casualties are cut by 5%-32%, depending on the range of measures implemented.

RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: “Young people are four times more likely to die in a road accident than as a result of drink or drugs. Yet, as a society we seem to turn a blind eye to the carnage. If this was any other area of public health there would be an outcry.”

The foundation is calling for a minimum one year learning period, with a variety of testing circumstances including winter and night driving, and a one year post-test period during which passenger restrictions and conditions for late night driving are imposed.

Glaister added: “Our research shows that putting certain restrictions on young drivers allows them to rapidly build up live-saving experience in the safest possible way. Putting a firm number on casualty reduction is hard because of the pick-and-mix approach to graduated licensing. But the evidence suggests that a full package of measures could reduce fatalities by anything up to 60%.

“Some will complain that these proposals are paternalistic and limit people’s freedom. This is nonsense. We should all have an interest in preserving young drivers’ lives rather than exposing them to undue risk at the stage of their driving careers where they are most vulnerable. This is about ensuring their long-term safety and mobility. Not curtailing it. ”