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Young Drivers

Young drivers are another high-risk casualty group - but again there are steps young people and their parents can take to lessen the risks.

National statistical research into casualties amongst young drivers (which is reflected in Essex data) reveals the following profile for their involvement in collisions:

Younger driver accidents peak between 6.00pm and midnight .All other accidents peak between midday and 6.00pm. Younger male drivers have a three times greater crash rate than young females. For 'at fault' crashes this rises to four times greater.

Young Drivers (17-25yrs) represent about 3% of all licence holders in this country but are involved in 25% of all Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) collisions. More crashes involve 18-year-olds than any other age group (Source: DfT, Road Casualties, GB - 2007)

In the last year there has been a significant reduction in the number of KSIs involving young drivers but there are still many complaints from the general public about poor driver behaviour displayed by this group (Source: Essex Police Neighbourhood Action Panels).

As a parent, it is wise to spend as much time as possible in the car with a learner or newly qualified driver - experience can be invaluable. It's also good to talk about the danger young people face when driving, and to come to sensible arrangements over things like driving late at night (when young driver casualty rates rise).