Safer DrivingParents & Young Drivers

Produced with the support of the Department for Transport

SAFER DRIVINGParents and Young Drivers

Why?Lack of experienceThis is one of the main reasons. As new drivers gainmore driving experience their accident rate beginsto fall.

AttitudeYoung drivers, especially men, tend to be over confidentand are more likely to drive in risky ways: too fast, tooclose to the vehicle in front and dangerous overtaking.Young drivers consistently rate their own performanceas above average and are more likely to regard ‘good’driving as the ability to master the controls of the car athigher speeds.

Hazard PerceptionYoung drivers often have excellent vehicle control skillsand fast reactions. But, they are poor at identifyingpotential hazards and assessing risk, and tend to over-estimate their ability to avoid the hazard and accident.It takes new drivers up to two seconds longer to react tohazardous situations than more experienced drivers.

Peer pressureYoung drivers, especially men, who carry friends aremore likely to have a crash.

GenderNovice male drivers have higher accident rates thannovice female drivers, and are more likely to commitdriving offences.

Parents & Young Drivers How Can You Help?

The Facts

When travelling with your son or daughter, let them drive toincrease their experience. Offer constructive advice, but don’t bea back seat driver!

Learner drivers have fewaccidents because they arealways under supervision.But, once they have passedtheir test, and can driveunsupervised, their chancesof crashing increasedramatically. Young driversare much more likely tocrash than experienceddrivers.

o 1 in 5 drivers crash withintheir first year of driving

o 1 in 3 male drivers agedbetween 17 and 20 yearscrash in the first two yearsafter passing their test.

o An 18 year old driver ismore than three times aslikely to be involved in acrash as a 48 year old driver.

o Young drivers are morelikely to be involved in high-speed crashes, single vehiclecrashes involving losingcontrol, crashes in the darkand crashes when overtakingand negotiating bends.

Pass Plus – www.passplus.org.uk

Passing the Driving Test is the first step to safe driving, not the end result. Encourage the young driver inyour household to take further training. The Pass Plus scheme helps new drivers improve their skills and

widen their driving experience. It involves extra driving practice in different conditions (at night and on urbanand rural roads, dual carriageways and motorways). There is no test, once completed drivers can obtainreduced insurance premiums from some insurance companies, the saving made may be more than the cost ofthe course.

Penalty Points

Not only are new drivers more likely to crash, but theyare allowed fewer penalty points before losing their

licence. If a driver acquires six or more penalty points withintwo years of passing their first test, their licence is revoked.They must then obtain a provisional licence, drive as a learner(display an ‘L’ Plate and be supervised) and pass the theoryand practical driving tests again.

Safe Driving AgreementIn America, parent/young driveragreements are popular. The newdriver is allowed to drive the familycar (or their own car if you help tofund it) unsupervised, if they agreeto certain conditions for the firstyear or so of driving. This keepsthem away from situations that aremost likely to lead to crashes.

The agreements are flexible andtailored to meet individual needs.They can be verbal or written(consider using the agreement onthe back cover). They are not aboutbeing over-protective orunreasonable but are promisesbetween the parent and the youngdriver for safer driving. Agree withyour son or daughter some or all ofthe following:-

Driving at night: As youngdrivers have a high proportion oftheir crashes at night, agree thetimes when they can drive the car.For example, you might agree theywill not use the car betweenmidnight and 6:00 am. The exacttimes can be agreed between you,and can be relaxed as their drivingexperience increases.

Carrying Groups of Friends:For the first few months after yourson or daughter has passed theirtest consider agreeing a limit on the

number of their friends they carry tojust one or two if you are not also inthe car. Passenger numbers can beincreased gradually as experienceis gained.

Alcohol and drugs: Ask theyoung driver in your household tostick to a zero limit when driving fora year or so after passing their test.Ask them not to take a lift withdrivers who have been drinking ormight have taken drugs. Remember,even some over-the-countermedicines cause drowsiness. Set agood example yourself.

Speed: Young drivers are morelikely to see speed as exciting.They are particularly prone toapproaching bends too fast and todangerous overtaking. Even keepingwithin the speed limit can beunsafe, for example on wet or icyroads or on narrow, winding ruralroads. Discuss with your youngdriver why you would like them notto speed or take risks.

Mobile phones: Whilst it isreassuring for young drivers to carrya mobile phone, it is dangerous touse it whilst driving. Ask your son ordaughter to agree only to use theirmobile phone whilst parked.Discuss other distractions, likeplaying loud music, eating, drinkingand smoking to ensure they are

aware of the implications ofdividing attention between thedriving and other things.

Seatbelts: Most drivers wear seatbelts, but rear seat passengers areless likely to do so. They present adanger to themselves and to otherpeople in the car. Drivers could agreeto always ask their passengers towear their seatbelts. Set an exampleand always wear yours.

‘P’ Plates: Green ‘P’ or ‘L’ platescan be displayed to indicate to otherroad users that there is aninexperienced driver at the wheel.

Over 3000 car drivers aged under 25 are killed or seriously injured onBritain’s roads each year. Don’t let your son or daughter become oneof these statistics

A Safer Driving Agreementrequires both the parentand the young driver tomake promises. In a RoSPAsurvey, most young driverssaid they would not objectto negotiating someconditions with theirparents.

For advice on young andnovice drivers, includinga sample Safer DrivingAgreement go towww.rospa.com

Why?Lack of experienceThis is one of the main reasons. As new drivers gainmore driving experience their accident rate beginsto fall.

AttitudeYoung drivers, especially men, tend to be over confidentand are more likely to drive in risky ways: too fast, tooclose to the vehicle in front and dangerous overtaking.Young drivers consistently rate their own performanceas above average and are more likely to regard ‘good’driving as the ability to master the controls of the car athigher speeds.

Hazard PerceptionYoung drivers often have excellent vehicle control skillsand fast reactions. But, they are poor at identifyingpotential hazards and assessing risk, and tend to over-estimate their ability to avoid the hazard and accident.It takes new drivers up to two seconds longer to react tohazardous situations than more experienced drivers.

Peer pressureYoung drivers, especially men, who carry friends aremore likely to have a crash.

GenderNovice male drivers have higher accident rates thannovice female drivers, and are more likely to commitdriving offences.

Parents & Young Drivers How Can You Help?

The Facts

When travelling with your son or daughter, let them drive toincrease their experience. Offer constructive advice, but don’t bea back seat driver!

Learner drivers have fewaccidents because they arealways under supervision.But, once they have passedtheir test, and can driveunsupervised, their chancesof crashing increasedramatically. Young driversare much more likely tocrash than experienceddrivers.

o 1 in 5 drivers crash withintheir first year of driving

o 1 in 3 male drivers agedbetween 17 and 20 yearscrash in the first two yearsafter passing their test.

o An 18 year old driver ismore than three times aslikely to be involved in acrash as a 48 year old driver.

o Young drivers are morelikely to be involved in high-speed crashes, single vehiclecrashes involving losingcontrol, crashes in the darkand crashes when overtakingand negotiating bends.

Pass Plus – www.passplus.org.uk

Passing the Driving Test is the first step to safe driving, not the end result. Encourage the young driver inyour household to take further training. The Pass Plus scheme helps new drivers improve their skills and

widen their driving experience. It involves extra driving practice in different conditions (at night and on urbanand rural roads, dual carriageways and motorways). There is no test, once completed drivers can obtainreduced insurance premiums from some insurance companies, the saving made may be more than the cost ofthe course.

Penalty Points

Not only are new drivers more likely to crash, but theyare allowed fewer penalty points before losing their

licence. If a driver acquires six or more penalty points withintwo years of passing their first test, their licence is revoked.They must then obtain a provisional licence, drive as a learner(display an ‘L’ Plate and be supervised) and pass the theoryand practical driving tests again.

Safe Driving AgreementIn America, parent/young driveragreements are popular. The newdriver is allowed to drive the familycar (or their own car if you help tofund it) unsupervised, if they agreeto certain conditions for the firstyear or so of driving. This keepsthem away from situations that aremost likely to lead to crashes.

The agreements are flexible andtailored to meet individual needs.They can be verbal or written(consider using the agreement onthe back cover). They are not aboutbeing over-protective orunreasonable but are promisesbetween the parent and the youngdriver for safer driving. Agree withyour son or daughter some or all ofthe following:-

Driving at night: As youngdrivers have a high proportion oftheir crashes at night, agree thetimes when they can drive the car.For example, you might agree theywill not use the car betweenmidnight and 6:00 am. The exacttimes can be agreed between you,and can be relaxed as their drivingexperience increases.

Carrying Groups of Friends:For the first few months after yourson or daughter has passed theirtest consider agreeing a limit on the

number of their friends they carry tojust one or two if you are not also inthe car. Passenger numbers can beincreased gradually as experienceis gained.

Alcohol and drugs: Ask theyoung driver in your household tostick to a zero limit when driving fora year or so after passing their test.Ask them not to take a lift withdrivers who have been drinking ormight have taken drugs. Remember,even some over-the-countermedicines cause drowsiness. Set agood example yourself.

Speed: Young drivers are morelikely to see speed as exciting.They are particularly prone toapproaching bends too fast and todangerous overtaking. Even keepingwithin the speed limit can beunsafe, for example on wet or icyroads or on narrow, winding ruralroads. Discuss with your youngdriver why you would like them notto speed or take risks.

Mobile phones: Whilst it isreassuring for young drivers to carrya mobile phone, it is dangerous touse it whilst driving. Ask your son ordaughter to agree only to use theirmobile phone whilst parked.Discuss other distractions, likeplaying loud music, eating, drinkingand smoking to ensure they are

aware of the implications ofdividing attention between thedriving and other things.

Seatbelts: Most drivers wear seatbelts, but rear seat passengers areless likely to do so. They present adanger to themselves and to otherpeople in the car. Drivers could agreeto always ask their passengers towear their seatbelts. Set an exampleand always wear yours.

‘P’ Plates: Green ‘P’ or ‘L’ platescan be displayed to indicate to otherroad users that there is aninexperienced driver at the wheel.

Over 3000 car drivers aged under 25 are killed or seriously injured onBritain’s roads each year. Don’t let your son or daughter become oneof these statistics

A Safer Driving Agreementrequires both the parentand the young driver tomake promises. In a RoSPAsurvey, most young driverssaid they would not objectto negotiating someconditions with theirparents.

For advice on young andnovice drivers, includinga sample Safer DrivingAgreement go towww.rospa.com

Young DriverI promise to:

j Confirm my destination in advancej Drive only during the following times of day

.............................am to .............................pmj Only give a lift to 1/2/3* passengers unless

you are also in the carj Never drink alcohol or take drugs and drive j Never accept a lift from a driver who has drunk

alcohol or taken drugs. I will always find alternative transport or will call you and ask you to collect me or pay for a taxi, no questions asked at the time.

j Always wear my seatbelt and ensure that my passengers do the same.

j Obey all traffic laws, including speed limits and parking restrictions.

j Never use a mobile phone while driving, only when parked

j Avoid distractions whilst driving – like fiddling with the stereo, smoking, eating and drinking

j Telephone you if I’m going to be laterthan expected

This agreement is made between.................................................................................................................... (son/daughter’s name)

and ..............................................................................................................................................................................................(parent’s name)

ParentI promise to:

j Always wear my seatbelt and ensure my passengers do the same

j Never drink alcohol or take drugs and drivej Obey all traffic laws, including speed limits

and parking restrictionsj Never use a mobile phone while driving, only

when parkedj Accept a call from you at any hour and either

collect you or agree to fund a taxi to enable you to get home, no questions asked atthe time

j Remain calm and constructive when travelling in the car with you and accept thatmistakes are an important part of learning.

We will review this agreement on ........................................................Signed: (by parent)...................................................................

Signed: (by son/daughter) ........................................................................Dated:...........................................................................................

*Delete as necessary

Safer Driving Agreement

The Royal Society for the Prevention of AccidentsEdgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7STTelephone: 0870 777 2171/0121 248 2000Fax: 0870 777 2199/0121 248 2001

Registered Charity No. 207823VAT Registration No. 655 1316 49 www.rospa.com