A recent survey conducted by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has unveiled concerning trends among young drivers in the UK. The study found that nearly one-third of motorists aged 18-26 admitted to taking selfies or filming themselves for social media while operating a vehicle.
The survey results paint a worrying picture of risky behaviors among young drivers:
- 31% have taken selfies or filmed themselves while driving
- 57% of those who filmed themselves uploaded the content to social media
- 41% have driven while fatigued
- 16% have sent text messages while driving
- 16% have exceeded speeds of 90mph
These findings highlight the need for urgent action to address dangerous driving habits among young people. Nicholas Lyes, policy and standards director at IAM RoadSmart, emphasized the disparity between young drivers' perceived invincibility and the stark reality presented by government statistics.
According to Department for Transport (DfT) data from 2022, one-fifth of drivers are involved in crashes within their first year of passing their driving test. Moreover, 4,311 car drivers under 25 were involved in accidents resulting in fatalities or serious injuries on British roads that year.
"This shows the Government needs to consider a statutory minimum period of learning to allow new drivers to gain confidence, experience and skills."
The concept of graduated driving licenses, which place restrictions on newly qualified drivers for a set period, has gained traction as a potential solution. This system has been successfully implemented in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Sweden. In fact, Sweden introduced graduated driving licenses in 1993, becoming one of the first European countries to adopt this approach.
Graduated licenses typically include limitations such as preventing new drivers from carrying passengers of a similar age. Research by road safety charity Brake indicates that newly qualified drivers with a car full of young passengers are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash compared to driving alone.
The UK government has previously considered implementing graduated driving licenses. In July 2019, DfT officials announced they were exploring this option for England. However, the idea was shelved in autumn 2020, partly due to concerns about its potential impact on young people's employment opportunities.
The dangers of distracted driving were tragically illustrated in a recent case where a 23-year-old driver was jailed for causing a fatal accident while taking a selfie. Amber Potter received a three-and-a-half-year sentence at Norwich Crown Court after admitting to causing the death of 64-year-old David Sinar by dangerous driving. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potentially devastating consequences of using mobile phones while driving.
It's worth noting that the brain's prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and risk assessment, doesn't fully develop until around age 25. This biological factor may contribute to the higher propensity for risky behaviors among young drivers.
In response to these concerns, a DfT spokesperson emphasized that road safety remains an absolute priority for the government. They stated, "Through our longstanding Think! campaign we are encouraging behaviour change to tackle dangerous driving. We are committed to delivering a new road safety strategy - the first in over a decade. We will set out next steps on this in due course."
As the debate continues, it's clear that addressing the issue of dangerous driving habits among young people will require a multifaceted approach, potentially including education, technology, and policy changes to ensure safer roads for all.