Skip to main content

Young drivers pose biggest road safety risk

Research published by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) reinstates past reports that young drivers continue to represent the biggest road safety challenge in terms of crash risk. Meanwhile older drivers are characterised in as being more cautious and able to adapt their driving styles in response to reduced driving-related capabilities. This process is referred to as “self-regulation”. However, whilst collision rates of older drivers may generally be low, the analyses of injury statistics in Great Bri
December 11, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Research published by the Transport Research Laboratory (777 TRL) reinstates past reports that young drivers continue to represent the biggest road safety challenge in terms of crash risk. Meanwhile older drivers are characterised in as being more cautious and able to adapt their driving styles in response to reduced driving-related capabilities. This process is referred to as “self-regulation”. However, whilst collision rates of older drivers may generally be low, the analyses of injury statistics in Great Britain (Lang, 2015) and other countries (OECD, 2001; Hakamies-Blomqvist, 1993; McGwin & Brown, 1999; Clarke, 2010) consistently find specific patterns of collisions for older drivers. This study sheds light on a process described as being effective in limiting older drivers’ collision involvement, but which is only poorly understand. The report posed the question how far a lack of calibration is a problem for young and older drivers. This can suggest measures that may improve the performance of older drivers through training.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • UK’s young drivers diminishing in number
    September 12, 2016
    Data available from the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) shows a continuing drop in the number of young people learning to drive. According to DfT research, fewer teenagers and young adults are now taking driving lessons or sitting driving tests than in previous decades. The cost of insurance is thought to be a major factor, since insurance firms have begun using more accurate calculations to determine the risk of young adults being involved in a crash. This has led to a massive jump in insurance premium
  • More motorcycle helmets added to UK safety ratings
    March 1, 2012
    More than 20 new motorcycle helmet safety ratings have been published by UK Road Safety Minister Mike Penning.
  • Tackling Europe’s urban road safety problems
    June 12, 2019
    Urban road safety is a key problem in Europe, an issue that needs to be addressed as a priority. That is the finding of a new report by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC). The ETSC’s report reveals that road deaths on urban roads decreased at around half the rate of those on rural roads over the period 2010-2017. The report also shows that vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, account for 70% of those killed and seriously injured on urban roads. Dovilė Adminaitė-
  • Tackling road safety in India
    February 7, 2012
    Introducing an Indian business leader committed to combating the 'perfect plague' of deaths on the country's roads