20% of the accidents against 5% of the miles!
Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:23 pm
Common sense or the nanny state gone mad again? 
No driving licence until 19?
By Richard Westcott
BBC transport correspondent
10 October 2013 Last updated at 19:33
Learner drivers may be subject to a minimum of 120 hours supervision
Teenagers, get ready to be outraged.
Some new research put together for the government suggests that young drivers shouldn't be able to qualify for a full licence until they are 19 years old.
In effect, it's proposing that 17 year olds have to spend at least a year learning how to drive before taking their test. After they pass they'll then have to spend another year on "probation", with some chunky restrictions on what they can do.
For example, no driving between 22:00 and 05:00 unless you have someone over 30 years old in the car. Why? Because 30-year-olds are more sensible.
It stops people filling their Vauxhall Viva with boisterous teenagers. You'll have to drive around with a green "P" plate on the car.
'Controversial stuff'
Can you imagine police patrols trying to work out at a glance whether someone's 30 years old or not?
It also suggests a ban on carrying passengers under 30 years old for all novice drivers aged under 30.
Controversial stuff. Having said all that, though, there is plenty in this work by the Transport Research Laboratory that that I'm sure will be welcomed by most campaigners - and parents, frankly.
Things like:
- road skills being taught in schools as part of the national curriculum
- letting learner drivers practise on the motorway
- making learners drive for a minimum of 100 supervised hours during the day and 20 at night. They'd have to fill in a log book to show they'd done it, although I suppose that's not hard to fake, is it?
Anyway, why does all this matter? Three reasons.
1. Driving is one of the biggest killers of young people in Britain. They're involved in around 20% of the worst accidents yet only drive around 5% of all miles. (I had a nasty accident three days after I passed my test because I was driving like a fool).
2. Some of these suggestions could happen. The government's going to consult on all this stuff soon and there could be a new law in a year or two.
3. If you cut accidents amongst young people, firstly you save tragedy and heartache for thousands of families; secondly insurance premiums might even come down. So more young people can get mobile.
'Long campaigned for'
The AA has already waded in. Its president, Edmund King, says: "There are many proposals in the report with merit and which are advocated by the AA. Road safety on the national curriculum is something we have long campaigned for and I am pleased to see it being recommended here.
"Likewise we would also support learner drivers being allowed on motorways with their instructor. However, at the extreme end this report could be seen as just recommending taking novice drivers off the road by regulation and restriction rather than helping them develop the right attitudes and skills to provide them with the mobility they need".
The government's publishing its young drivers Green Paper this month (hopefully). Expect plenty of interesting suggestions and ideas in that.
Are you a teenager? What do you think? @richardwestcott
No driving licence until 19?
By Richard Westcott
BBC transport correspondent
10 October 2013 Last updated at 19:33
Learner drivers may be subject to a minimum of 120 hours supervision
Teenagers, get ready to be outraged.
Some new research put together for the government suggests that young drivers shouldn't be able to qualify for a full licence until they are 19 years old.
In effect, it's proposing that 17 year olds have to spend at least a year learning how to drive before taking their test. After they pass they'll then have to spend another year on "probation", with some chunky restrictions on what they can do.
For example, no driving between 22:00 and 05:00 unless you have someone over 30 years old in the car. Why? Because 30-year-olds are more sensible.
It stops people filling their Vauxhall Viva with boisterous teenagers. You'll have to drive around with a green "P" plate on the car.
'Controversial stuff'
Can you imagine police patrols trying to work out at a glance whether someone's 30 years old or not?
It also suggests a ban on carrying passengers under 30 years old for all novice drivers aged under 30.
Controversial stuff. Having said all that, though, there is plenty in this work by the Transport Research Laboratory that that I'm sure will be welcomed by most campaigners - and parents, frankly.
Things like:
- road skills being taught in schools as part of the national curriculum
- letting learner drivers practise on the motorway
- making learners drive for a minimum of 100 supervised hours during the day and 20 at night. They'd have to fill in a log book to show they'd done it, although I suppose that's not hard to fake, is it?
Anyway, why does all this matter? Three reasons.
1. Driving is one of the biggest killers of young people in Britain. They're involved in around 20% of the worst accidents yet only drive around 5% of all miles. (I had a nasty accident three days after I passed my test because I was driving like a fool).
2. Some of these suggestions could happen. The government's going to consult on all this stuff soon and there could be a new law in a year or two.
3. If you cut accidents amongst young people, firstly you save tragedy and heartache for thousands of families; secondly insurance premiums might even come down. So more young people can get mobile.
'Long campaigned for'
The AA has already waded in. Its president, Edmund King, says: "There are many proposals in the report with merit and which are advocated by the AA. Road safety on the national curriculum is something we have long campaigned for and I am pleased to see it being recommended here.
"Likewise we would also support learner drivers being allowed on motorways with their instructor. However, at the extreme end this report could be seen as just recommending taking novice drivers off the road by regulation and restriction rather than helping them develop the right attitudes and skills to provide them with the mobility they need".
The government's publishing its young drivers Green Paper this month (hopefully). Expect plenty of interesting suggestions and ideas in that.
Are you a teenager? What do you think? @richardwestcott
Re: 20% of the accidents against 5% of the miles!
Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:43 pm
33 percent of deaths among 13 to 19-year-olds in 2010 occurred in motor vehicle crashes.
16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.
56 percent of teens said they talk on the phone while driving.
Statistics show that 16 and 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger.
Only 44 percent of teens said they would definitely speak up if someone were driving in a way that scared them.
Teen drivers with involved parents are twice as likely to wear seat belts.
More than 40 percent of teen car deaths occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Talking on a mobile can double the likelihood of an accident as well as slow a young driver’s reaction time down to that of a 70-year-old.
In their first year of driving 1 in 5 16-year-old drivers has an accident!
56 percent of teenagers rely on their parents to learn how to drive.
Crash risk for teens increase incrementally with each mile per hour over the speed limit.
16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age.
56 percent of teens said they talk on the phone while driving.
Statistics show that 16 and 17-year-old driver death rates increase with each additional passenger.
Only 44 percent of teens said they would definitely speak up if someone were driving in a way that scared them.
Teen drivers with involved parents are twice as likely to wear seat belts.
More than 40 percent of teen car deaths occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Talking on a mobile can double the likelihood of an accident as well as slow a young driver’s reaction time down to that of a 70-year-old.
In their first year of driving 1 in 5 16-year-old drivers has an accident!
56 percent of teenagers rely on their parents to learn how to drive.
Crash risk for teens increase incrementally with each mile per hour over the speed limit.
Re: 20% of the accidents against 5% of the miles!
Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:54 pm
Yes. I got caught on my phone driving a few years back and will have it off my license soon and it was naive and stupid of me. Im glad in a way as it was a life lesson and a wake up call for me.
I was young then, thought I knew better, but I didn't. I haven't caused a crash or anything at all but now when I see people, especially those I know, talking/texting on their phone whilst driving it grinds my gears massively. Obviously, this could be regarded hypocritical as I got caught but after I got caught I looked it up etc. as the copper gave me a good, well deserved dressing down and the results are proven.
Texting on the phone is by far worse and anyone who does it is a moron of the highest order. Whilst people who talk on the phone are still looking up at the road mostly (of course distracted) I just cant fathom those who think its okay to look down and text whilst driving and not looking at the road. You have to be a special kind of idiot to do that sort of thing.
People like that should be banned instantly.
I personally think it should be 21 years old before you can drive and 18 for those who need a car for working purposes and are insured for those working purposes.
I was young then, thought I knew better, but I didn't. I haven't caused a crash or anything at all but now when I see people, especially those I know, talking/texting on their phone whilst driving it grinds my gears massively. Obviously, this could be regarded hypocritical as I got caught but after I got caught I looked it up etc. as the copper gave me a good, well deserved dressing down and the results are proven.
Texting on the phone is by far worse and anyone who does it is a moron of the highest order. Whilst people who talk on the phone are still looking up at the road mostly (of course distracted) I just cant fathom those who think its okay to look down and text whilst driving and not looking at the road. You have to be a special kind of idiot to do that sort of thing.
People like that should be banned instantly.
I personally think it should be 21 years old before you can drive and 18 for those who need a car for working purposes and are insured for those working purposes.
Re: 20% of the accidents against 5% of the miles!
Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:03 pm
JBCCFC1927 wrote:Yes. I got caught on my phone driving a few years back and will have it off my license soon and it was naive and stupid of me. Im glad in a way as it was a life lesson and a wake up call for me.
I was young then, thought I knew better, but I didn't. I haven't caused a crash or anything at all but now when I see people, especially those I know, talking/texting on their phone whilst driving it grinds my gears massively. Obviously, this could be regarded hypocritical as I got caught but after I got caught I looked it up etc. as the copper gave me a good, well deserved dressing down and the results are proven.
Texting on the phone is by far worse and anyone who does it is a moron of the highest order. Whilst people who talk on the phone are still looking up at the road mostly (of course distracted) I just cant fathom those who think its okay to look down and text whilst driving and not looking at the road. You have to be a special kind of idiot to do that sort of thing.
People like that should be banned instantly.
I personally think it should be 21 years old before you can drive and 18 for those who need a car for working purposes and are insured for those working purposes.
Got to apreceate your remorse and honesty mate. I have been a long way from perfect in the past myself, which is natural for a young person as they are still learning.
I have only been driving cars for about 2 years with no acidents im 36 now. Before that all I drove was bikes, I must have had about 6 acidents 5 of which were my fault, the last one was when I was about 19 since then I upgraded from 125's to a Triumph 600 and then a Ninja 900 and had no acidents up to when I stopped driving bikes at 34.
I think 25 is the magic number but 19 is a big leap from 17. When I was was 17 I was a right numpty and I thought I was invincible. Luckily I never hit anyone, I just came off on poor road services. You start realising the dangers as you get older and the risks plummet. I think my story demonstrates that. If I had a superbike at 17 I would be a goner now but these kids get high powered cars, and worse still they get their mates in the back to show off too.