ABI reiterate plans to decrease road traffic accidents involving young drivers

Published: 24/11/2011

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced its aim to reduce the number of young driver deaths and serious injuries on UK roads.

There are sadly 18 people killed or injured every day in road traffic accidents involving drivers under the age of 25. The ABI believes enforcing such rules as night-time curfews and minimum learning periods could help reduce the number of accidents involving young, inexperienced drivers.

Otto Thoresen is the Director General at the ABI:

“As a nation of car users with some of the busiest roads in the world, insurers are committed to providing the best possible deal for motorists.

“One of the key ways to achieve this has to be improving the safety of young drivers, who continue to make up a disproportionate number of road casualties. Five years ago we called for measures, such as minimum learning periods, to tackle this tragic waste of life, yet every day 18 young people die or are seriously injured on our roads.

“Insurers are actively helping young drivers through the increasing use of telematic ‘black box’ systems that reward safer driving. But we cannot do this alone. So I reiterate our call to the Government to work with us to tackle this issue. The time has come to seriously consider tougher measures such as zero tolerance drink-drive limit for drivers under 25, graduated licencing and restrictions on driving at night and in the early hours.”¹

Yet despite these firm words, the Government has confirmed it will not be imposing any driving restrictions on young drivers, stating setting driving boundaries would “unfairly penalise responsible young people who rely on driving to get to work and college.”²

A recent survey from road safety charity Brake and QBE Insurance contradicted the Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning’s, belief that most young drivers were responsible.

54 per cent of young passengers have felt at risk whilst in a car driven by one of their peers, while 24 per cent admitted getting into a car after the driver had taken drugs or alcohol. An overwhelming majority of 82 per cent of those surveyed said they supported at least one restriction on young drivers.²

¹ABI (Nov 2011)
²BBC (Nov 2011)

Content correct at time of publication