First 250 miles ‘are riskiest for young drivers’

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A driving instructor education programme, Drive-Ed is calling for more comprehensive training for young drivers. According to 2005 research by Dr Sarah Fletcher of Cranfield University, drivers aged 17-20 are most at risk of crashing within the first 250 miles they drive solo after passing the driving test. In 2005 there were 19.2 fatalities per 100,000 licences amongst car drivers aged 17 to 20, compared with just 14.2 ten years earlier.

Susan McCormack, currently undertaking an MSc in Driver Behaviour and Education at Cranfield says “Inexperience is a huge contributory factor in crashes caused by newly qualified drivers. A 17 year old male is capable of acquiring the skills he needs to demonstrate safe control of the vehicle during his driving test and pass with less than 20 hours of driving lessons but…losing control of a vehicle on a bend is as much to do with the driver's lack of awareness of his or her personal strengths and limitations as it is to do with the road, weather or vehicle conditions. “

 

Making high speed, rural roads more 'forgiving' of driver error and changing driver behaviour will be one of the topics covered at LTT’s conference, “The changing face of speed management – policy, practice and enforcement’ on 19 March in London. For further details call 0845 270 7965 or visit conferences@landor.co.uk