Calls for More Action to Save Young Drivers’ Lives

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has called on the newly-elected Government to commit to the safety of young drivers.

The safety charity is lobbying ministers to agree to a Green Paper on young drivers in a bid to save the hundreds of 17-24 year olds who are killed or seriously injured on the roads each year.

According to RoSPA, a total of 131 young drivers were killed on the roads in 2013, while 1,159 were left with serious injuries.

Earlier this year, RoSPA wrote to all UK political parties asking them to consider a range of potentially life-saving options such as graduated driver licensing (a phased driving experience for young drivers), and telematics (or black box technology) and the charity is now renewing its call following the General Election.

The charity believes the production of a robust consultation document would be a significant development in the drive to cut the number of crashes involving young drivers.

“Young drivers are more likely to be involved in road accidents than experienced drivers - and yet they drive fewer miles,” explained Kevin Clinton, RoSPA’s head of road safety.

“Sadly, they account for about 20% of all road deaths,” he added. “But if we all work more closely together, there is scope to reduce, significantly, the number of casualties caused by new and inexperienced drivers.”

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