Government's failure to kick start motor reforms risking young drivers' lives

The government’s failure to kick start “much needed reforms aimed at reducing the unacceptably” high number of serious road crashes involving young drivers is putting their lives at risk, The ABI has said.

The trade body added that measures needed to improve young driver road safety, which have stalled, has meant that premiums for young drivers have remained high. 

The ABI has called for reforms to drive down the cost of motor insurance for young drivers to be kick started again.

Director of general insurance policy James Dalton said: “Three years on from the Prime Ministerial summit, insurers continue to deliver on their commitment to pass on costs savings to consumers following reforms to the civil justice system.

“While good progress has been made, more can be done to strip out unnecessary costs from the market and help bring down car insurance premiums, particularly for young drivers. Increasing the small claims track limit is a potential quick win and would reduce premiums.

“And the government’s continued failure to make meaningful changes to improve young driver testing and training is not only putting their lives at risk, but keeping the costs of motor insurance for young drivers unnecessarily.”

Since the second quarter of 2012 the average comprehensive motor insurance premium paid has fallen by 10% to £372, reforms to the civil justice system introduced in April 2013 have stripped out excessive legal costs, while the industry has also been working closely with government and other stakeholders in the development of MedCo.

But the ABI said despite the savings that motorists had benefitted from, it added that more needed to be done.

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