17.09.07 Do reckless young drivers endanger lives in rural areas?
Young drivers, it seems, have become more reckless than ever before. This was the finding of a recently published report by the car firm, Autoglass, in association with RoadSafe. Of particular concern is the conduct of young drivers on rural roads.
The survey revealed a number of staggering facts about the consequences of young motorists’ driving habits.
Are younger drivers more hazardous on the road than older drivers?
- Young drivers often take unprecedented risks. According to the study, 33% of drivers under the age of 25 admitted to having taken a bend at speed whilst driving down a rural road.
- 66% of the drivers polled acknowledged having exceeded the acceptable speed limit.
- Men, the study suggests, are more likely to be responsible for errors of judgement when driving than women.
- 69% of male motorists under the age of 25 admitted to exceeding speed limits in rural areas compared to 50% of women.
Results of the Autoglass/Roadsafe survey revealed that poor driving practices on the part of younger drivers were to blame for a significant proportion of the 3,000 deaths on British roads each year. Indeed, for men, automobile accidents account for one in four deaths within the 15 - 24 age group. However, many young drivers do not appear to understand the magnitude of the problem caused by their risky behaviour.
Autoglass managing director Nigel Doggett says, “Less traffic on rural roads compared with urban roads and motorways often leads people to think that they are safer to drive on. But rural roads have their own very unique hazards, with high hedgerows, tractors and other slow-moving vehicles, hills, bends and blind corners affecting the view of the road ahead. Combine this with accelerated speeds and the time that a driver has to react is significantly shortened.”
Under these circumstances, hazardous driving practices such as overtaking at speed become particularly dangerous. In addition, rural roads tend to be far narrower than urban motorways. As a result, it is often difficult for motorists to judge the speed of cars travelling in the opposite direction.
There are a number of steps young drivers can take to ensure they remain safe when driving through rural areas.
- Even if you believe that you are familiar with the routes you take, keep a watchful eye on the road ahead. Only overtake if you have a clear view of the rest of the road.
- Beware of obstructions. These come in many forms – remember in rural areas, there’s always the possibility that you might need to stop to allow a cow to cross the road!
- Even if you are travelling along a deserted country lane, there is no reason to exceed the limit. Indeed, the Autoglass/RoadSafe report acknowledged the existence of “an undoubted correlation between speeding and crashes” on rural roads.
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I don't think all young drivers are dangerous, some are quite conscientious. Safety is more a matter of experience and awareness than age. I think some of the most dangerous drivers are older ones who no longer feel they need to be as careful because they are "experienced".
Of course not all young drivers are dangerous! - both my son [25] and daughter [28] have been driving since 17 and neither have had so much as a scratch! I like to think that is because they were intelligent and imaginative enough to understand the risks, and bought up to have some modicum of consideration for others, and drive accordingly.
Driving is not innate, it is a skill to be learnt, by both experience, practice and understanding, much like everything else in life. Problem is that the consequences of not understanding that can be tragic in the case of driving. A car is a lethal weapon, and like other lethal weapons we should think very seriously about who should have them, and at what stage they should have them. We now have sophisticated simulation technology available which we could adopt as part of the driving test, and where we can test a drivers reactions to circumstances which could occur like, potential for road rage in frustrating driving conditions, simulated rural driving etc etc. - what and in particular when a driver could be let loose on our roads may then have a more objective basis than a ridiculously simple written test and a 30 min 'test' on the roads, when the candidate is focussed on doing everything right!
I'm 19 and have never had a bump. I have mobility problems (will be having prosthetic legs very soon too) and am dependent on a car, so it does irritate me when reckless drivers push up the cost of insurance for the rest of us.
The most dangerous drivers are, unfortunately, those who are probably most dependent on personal transport - pensioners. To watch some of them drive is... pretty frightening, to say the least.