New Research Shows Young Driver Risks
New research from the AA shows that 71% of fatal accidents involving young drivers occur on rural roads
Analysts at the Road Safety Foundation were commissioned by the AA to study six years’ worth of young driver crash data, which involved injuries of all severities.
Motorists in that age bracket are over-represented in rural crashes by nine per cent, relative to all roads, with the over-representation highest for those aged 17 (27 per cent) and decreasing with every subsequent year.
Time
According to the research, young drivers are 24% more likely to crash on Sundays than other drivers.
Type
Young drivers are also at higher risk of a single-vehicle crash.
Comparison
Compared to crashes on urban roads, young drivers face a higher risk of death (two per cent) or serious injury (15.2 per cent) as opposed to (0.6 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively).
Comment
Edmund King, director of the AA Charitable Trust said:
“Many young drivers and indeed parents are unaware that rural roads pose a specific and significant risk to young drivers and potentially are much more dangerous than motorways or urban roads. Seventy-one per cent of fatal car crashes involving young drivers take place on rural roads. The research should help target driver education at the times and places young drivers are most at risk.”
Transport secretary Grant Shapps added:
“Rural roads are often narrow with blind bends, which is why it’s essential we raise awareness among young people on how to drive safely on them. I strongly support the AA in its work to improve the education of drivers. Our award-winning THINK! campaign challenges social norms among younger drivers – including attitudes to speeding and driving on rural roads –and I look forward to working together to prevent further tragedies.”
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New Research Shows Young Driver Risks