New partnership tackles road safety for young drivers
Confused.com has announced it has teamed up with Protect Young Drivers to improve road safety for newly qualified drivers.
Protect Young Drivers, hosted by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, is a dedicated website and central hub for evidence, insight and action to reduce serious road harm among young drivers.
The new partnership will deliver data-driven education for drivers while seeking a better understanding of how policy and licensing approaches such as Graduated Driving Licensing can better protect young drivers.
About one in five people killed or seriously injured on UK roads are young drivers, with males aged 17 to 24 four times more likely to killed or seriously injured than those aged 25 and over.
Meanwhile, insurance premiums are now 44% higher than a decade ago, with average premiums for younger drivers up to £2,082.
Higher risk
Steve Dukes, CEO at Confused.com, said: “When it comes to insurance, the question we get asked a lot is ‘why are young drivers paying so much for their insurance?’ It’s a real pain point for them, as they are desperate for their freedom, but have to foot hefty insurance costs to get there. And the truth is that young drivers are statistically at a higher risk of an incident, compared to other age groups.
“The insurance industry is under pressure to do better and help bring costs down, especially for younger drivers. But the answer fundamentally lies in improving road safety, and reducing risk. This is a priority when it comes to helping young drivers feel safe and confident on the road.
“Better education of risks, safer driving habits and perhaps more enforcement will not only improve road safety, but can make driving more affordable too.”
Understanding
Rebecca Morris, engagement director, Protect Young Drivers, added: “Young drivers experience a unique combination of inexperience and exposure to higher-risk situations. This partnership allows us to combine robust road safety research with industry data, helping to build a clearer picture of the challenges young drivers face.
“By improving understanding and supporting informed discussion, we can play a part in creating safer conditions for young people as they gain independence and experience behind the wheel.”
