Road Safety Week: Serious Injury lawyer explores difficulties faced by new drivers

In the UK, new drivers face significant risks, especially when carrying passengers. 

While passing a driving test is a milestone, true driving safety often comes with experience. A major concern is the potential dangers posed by new drivers carrying passengers, particularly young or inexperienced ones.

As an expert serious injury lawyer and in support of Brake the road safety charity’s annual Road Safety Week, I'm shining the spotlight on the difficulties faced by new drivers.

Distraction and risk-taking

Passengers can distract new drivers, leading to reckless behaviours. Young drivers, aged 17-24, are particularly vulnerable, with higher rates of fatal and serious accidents. Their inexperience in handling complex driving environments is compounded by the presence of passengers, making it harder to focus on the road.

Psychological impact

New drivers often lack the psychological maturity to handle stressful situations on the road. The presence of passengers can increase anxiety and lead to poor decision-making. The added responsibility for passengers’ safety can be overwhelming, especially for young drivers. This psychological burden can result in heightened stress levels, which further impairs their ability to drive safely. 

For instance, a sudden change in weather or unexpected traffic congestion can become more challenging to manage when the driver is also concerned about the well-being of their passengers.

Legislative considerations

To mitigate these risks, some suggest stricter regulations for new drivers carrying passengers. Measures like limiting the number of young passengers or imposing a probationary period could help. 

Although the UK currently lacks such laws, ongoing discussions highlight the need for change. Implementing such measures could significantly reduce the number of accidents involving new drivers and improve overall road safety. 

For example, countries like Australia and New Zealand have implemented graduated licensing systems that restrict new drivers from carrying young passengers during their initial driving period, and the Brake charity states that there have been reductions of between 20% and 40% in crashes resulting in death and serious injury involving young drivers.

The charity Brake is calling for Graduated Driving Licences in the UK too, that would safeguard young and newly qualified drivers, with minimum periods for learning, enhanced testing and training, and measures in place to reduce the risks associated with carrying peer-age passengers and driving at night.

Statistics

• Young drivers aged 17-24 are at higher risk of accidents when carrying passengers;
• The risk of a fatal crash increases by 40% with one passenger aged 16-24;
• Two or more passengers nearly double the crash risk.
• The National Road Traffic Accident Database shows that nearly 50% of crashes involving young drivers occur with passengers in the car. The presence of peers can lead to increased distraction and peer pressure, contributing to accidents.
• According to a report from Brake, 50% of young drivers who die in crashes had passengers.
• Young drivers with passengers are involved in 15% more fatal accidents than those driving solo.
• The risk is even more pronounced at night. Research indicates that young drivers are twice as likely to crash at night when carrying passengers compared to driving alone.

Conclusion

The presence of passengers significantly increases the risk of accidents for young drivers due to distraction, peer pressure, and inexperience. These findings underscore the need for additional safety measures or restrictions, such as limiting passengers for new drivers, to help reduce these risks and improve road safety. 

While the ability to drive with passengers is an important step toward full independence for young drivers, it’s crucial that measures are put in place to ensure that their inexperience does not put themselves or others in danger. 

In my role, I all too frequently see the devastating consequences that lack of experience and inattention can have.

Ultimately, a combined effort from policymakers, educators, parents, and the drivers themselves is essential to create a safer driving environment for everyone. By addressing the specific challenges faced by new drivers, we can help reduce accidents and save lives on the road.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in helping people and families following road accidents at our road traffic accident claims section.