Would Young Driver Restrictions Reduce National Accident and Injury Rates?

It’s been proposed that to introduce something of a graduated licensing system for younger and newer drivers would go a long way toward helping bring down the annual rate of road traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities.

To state that younger drivers are more likely to cause and be involved in accidents is in no way discriminatory…it’s a proven fact. And it’s not necessarily to do with lackadaisical attitudes either, but rather one of simple inexperience and insufficient practice.

As for the solution – some have suggested that putting heavier restrictions on new drivers for at least 12-months after their tests would make a huge difference to overall road safety. The idea of graduated licensing has once again been floated by motor authorities in the UK and has surprisingly won the backing of most drivers – even those that would be affected by the proposed scheme.

A survey was commissioned by the UK’s RAC and produced data to suggest that 68% of adults are in favor of the idea that would see all drivers under the age of 24 face driving restrictions in the immediate months after passing their tests. And in younger driver age group, over 40% spoke in favor of the idea which came out much higher than the 32% against it.

Annual reports continue to illustrate how a disproportionate number of serious and fatal accidents are cause each year by younger and newer drivers. The exact circumstances of each accident varies enormously, but it’s generally believed that inexperience is one of the biggest dangers to public road safety on the whole.