With more and more young drivers dying on the UK roads it is heart breaking?

Question

for family and friends to have to deal with the reality that they are never going to see their sons and daughters again.

It saddens me that these young drivers still ignore all the advice and media coverage on speeding and following the rules of the road.

What extra measures do you think ought ot be implemented to protect these young drivers from their own foolishness? And where does the responsibility lay in ensuring that these drivers take note that a car is an implement of death if handled disrepectfully.


Since last Thursday here in the North East of Scotland (aberdeenshire) there has been 8 fatalities alone. Not counting those who were injured.

Yes you are right to pull me over that, but most deaths here seem to be that of young drivers. There are bad drivers in any age group.

Answer 1

Provisional riders of motorbikes are limited to small engine sizes that do not allow them to go at crazy speeds. I think cars should have the same for the first 2-3 years of your license. It's not the age but the lack of experience in their own ability. Most of the time a fatal accident just becomes a "nearly" accident at lower speeds, and can still get you pretty shaken up.

I saw an accident in a supermarket car park the other day - speed, 5mph, damage minimal, young driver shaking, crying and totally distraught. That's what people need - a bit of reality towards their own driving ability.

Answer 2

Without a doubt the age for a driving license should be raised to 21 but even then, 21 year old lads are prone to showing off to their mates and driving recklessly. It is heartbreaking but I truly don't know what the answer is. I passed my test two weeks ago as a mum of 3 in my thirties. Since driving alone I've become acutely aware of the foolishness of other drivers and the need to pre-empt every move they could potentially make to endanger me. It's sometimes frightening as younger drivers seem to have no fear or concept of danger at all. It's a good question you've asked but I'm afraid I have to admit I don't know the answer.

Answer 3

Young men particularly (and some young women) will do daring things regardless of what they are driving, even on bicycles, so it will be very difficult to prevent any accidents happening. I made some horrendous mistakes while driving in my youth but fortunately never had an accident that involved other persons. Over-confidence is the main killer not so much speed, when you are young and fit you do not feel vulnerable. Is there a solution, well not without spending loads of money on young people/drivers and no government can afford that because it will not win votes.

Answer 4

I am on the committee of a Road Safety Council in Australia we run programs aimed at giving more experience for young drivers before they get a licence but allways they still have accidents. we have started impownding cars of hoon drivers. I read recently a letter written by some scientist in England in which he said the frontal lobal of a young person does not fully develop until about 25 and he says this is what causes young people to take risks and it is a human trait placed in us to cause the young person to take such steps as to want to leave the nest being home perhaps there has to be some very differn't thinking applied to solve this problem.

Answer 5

I am 23 and only been driving 6 months - but i have found the drivers to speed the most are middle-aged men - especially taxi drivers.

I tend to stick to the speed limit - but find myself being 'pushed' by a number of these drivers. They are quite intimidating - so it isn't just the younger ones - an example should be set!!

Answer 6

1) Make the test harder
2) Limit the times they can drive for 4 years after passing the test
3) Immediately suspend the drivers who receive fines for driving offenses (for the young drivers).
4) Make there parents pay an additional fine for not putting there foot down
5) Known trouble makers should be banned from driving until they change there attitude
6) Make them sign up for a drink - register at the local pub.

Answer 7

My first thought was restricting the engines to a specific speed for the first few years of drivers passing their tests...I then realised this wouldn't work, they would need to be able to at least reach 60mph to be safe on motorways, and how would we stop em doing this speed on housing estates and outside schools.

Or maybe part of their test should involve crashing into a wall at low speed to realise its not just a bump. Or to take a visit to their local hospital to see the devastating effects on both the victims and their families, this might give them a shock into realising their own and others immortality.

My cousin was killed by a car last year. A woman was driving at night with a car full of lads, when she hit the kerb and lost control of the car, which flipped and landed on its side. Everyone in the car was fine. My cousin was stood on the kerb, waiting to cross the road with her friend when this car smashed into her, carried her across a roundabaout and threw her into the road. She was killed instantly, her friend was knocked unconcious and had both of his legs broken. When he came around in hospital he had no idea what had happened. The news of my cousins death had to be broken to him several times, each time as heartbreaking and damaging as finding out for the very first time.

The woman driving was in her late 20's. I don't think age has as bigger influence of these statistics as everyone thinks. Many crashes can be influenced by alcohol, drugs, tiredness and lack of concentration.

I am a driver and occasionally I do speed, on motorways, or on quiet roads. It is then that I remember what happened to my cousin and I slow down.

Unless death by speeding affects the driver personally, I don't think anything will make them reconsider at what speed they are driving.

Answer 8

it is in the nature of young men to show off ,but it is so very dangerous at the wheel of a powerful car, i live in an area where the youngsters get to drive their daddies expensive powerful cars and i am terrified to take my grandchildren for a walk even though we have wide foot paths. the last car accident i was involved in was a young driver of a car full of boys who misjudged the corner trying to beat the traffic lights and hit the kerb bouncing int us at speed writing off my Saab......not an easy thing to do as Saab's are tough.....i an now very conscious of cars coming round corners.
if we were to raise the age at which they could legally drive they would just break the law.
having said all that there are a lot of very good young drivers with great reflexes who just lack experience.

Answer 9

Is more legislation the answer? People have to take responsibility for their own safety. I agree that often they don't and they are not the only ones to suffer the dire consequences. An effective enforcement regime, not just more cameras, would seem sensible.
Expensive though...
And it wouldn't stop people driving like idiots when they think they can get away with it.
I think people just imagine the rules don't apply to them (look at the mobile phone ban whilst driving).

Answer 10

there is no real answer to this other than extreme consequences for any reckless driving offenses commited by those who have held a driving license for less than.....say 5 years.

If the age restriction is lifted, then it makes life very difficult. When I was 21 I relied on my car. I had a job and no bus route took me to work, I also had a child with a second on the way and my wife couldn't drive.