Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee

Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee

Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee

Young Drivers and Road Safety - Submission by the IAM

Author – Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research

Overview

The IAM welcomes this review by the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee. We have been very supportive of the campaigning work of Road Safety Scotland in this area but more needs to be done. We await the imminent publication of the findings of the ‘conversation with young people’ on road safety topics. Listening to their views is important and should guide the planning of future interventions.

Young people are most at risk in the first six to twelve months of driving. This fact is often hidden by the use of statistical age bands such as ‘17-25 year olds’. The issues affecting 24 year olds are substantially different to those affecting a 17 or 18 year old. Young drivers tend to suffer from a combination of poor attitude and inexperience. As experience grows a minority continue to exhibit poor behaviour.

The IAM believes that the current driving test and learning to drive syllabus is not addressing the locations where young drivers are most likely to die or injure themselves.. It is still possible to pass the test without gaining experience of 60mph rural single carriageways or night time driving – both key risk factors for new drivers. Particularly in Scotland it should be easy to have a driving test approach that ensures some experience is gained before new drivers are abandoned to learn the hard way by themselves.

Young drivers do have different crashes from other age groups. An IAM report, due to be published in April, on crash contributory factors will show that young drivers make more driving errors, undertake more injudicious actions and behaviour and inexperience also come into play. Road environment factors (eg bad weather) also show a higher incidence among young drivers. At 1% of all crashes vehicle defects are a small factor but this is a much higher figure than for more experienced drivers. This latter point is mainly due to young drivers driving older vehicles.

Attracting Younger Drivers into Continuous Learning

Most IAM Groups in Scotland have a nominated young driver ambassador who tries to reach a younger audience. The full IAM test involves many weeks of preparation and then a 90 minute test. At £139.99 (often discounted by local groups for new drivers) it represents good value for money but does require a substantial time commitment. Coupled with an image of advanced driving which suggests to many that it is for older drivers the IAM has not managed to attract the numbers of younger drivers into membership that we would have liked.

To plug this gap the IAM has just launched ‘Momentum’ a £40 driving assessment on line and on road as an entry point to our approach and to promote the full test. The online assessment is done at home and the 60 minute assessment is done with a fully qualified IAM examiner.. The use if an initial on line assessment of driving risk is a well known technique in the company car driver field.

The ‘Momentum’ programme addresses key high risk issues such as rural roads, carrying friends in the car, night time driving and bad weather.

The IAM believe all new young drivers should be encouraged to take such a course and then move on to our full IAM test.

Until further training is either properly incentivised, compulsory or ‘cool’ it will remain problematical in attracting those most at risk. The majority of young people do survive their early years behind the wheel and go on to become average drivers. With limited resources targeting the least likely to volunteer groups should be a priority. This could be done officially through sending youngsters caught speeding on rectification courses or insisting that they take IAM Momentum or the full IAM test.

Insurance discounts are an incentive for some but in a competitive market can be limited in scope and value. For many the cost of insurance is prohibitive so substantial discounts would be an incentive not to break the law and drive unlicensed. The IAM test allows drivers as young as 19 to get a discount.

Graduated Licensing

The IAM is not convinced that a full graduated licensing scheme is enforceable in Scotland or that there is any evidence that controls and curfews have any lasting impact. In rural Scotland curfews or limits on the number of passengers a new driver can carry would have a substantial economic and social impact.

The IAM has been impressed by the results achieved by a multi phase’ licensing system in Austria where there has been a 35% decrease in young male crash involvement following its introduction. The system works like this;

Austrian Multi Phase Model

Normal European model driving test is passed and then;

  1. Feedback drive (within 2-4 months)
  2. Visit to an off road centre & psychological group discussion (within 3-9 months)
  3. Economy drive (within 6-12 months)

Austria has a network of privately owned off road training safety centres where elements of the course can take place. This is not skid training as such but a serious of exercise to show the impact of speed and weather on cornering and stopping distances. Phases 1 and 3 can be undertaken with an approved driving instructor locally. Sanctions are limited in Austria as most comply.

The IAM believe that such a system which ensures that new drivers have the chance to rectify any early problems and also address attitudes before ‘full’ license status is achieved should be investigated for Scotland and the UK.

Lower Drink Drive Limit for Young and Inexperienced Drivers

The IAM is willing to consider a lower drink drive limit for new drivers but such a system may be very hard to enforce without a requirement to carry some form of identity. The fear of being caught is in our view the key deterrent so more high profile police testing and checking might negate the need to change the law.

The Role of Parents

In the view of the IAM parents have a key role to play in determining their children’s future safety on the roads. Research suggests that attitudes from parents are embedded into their children by their early teens. Setting a good example in their own driving is therefore vital if parents are to provide their children with the right approach to driving. Parents need more information on how to support the teaching of their sons and daughters as well as on the safest cars to buy and the high risk locations. Those young people who have the widest range of pre test driving experiences on different road types and in all weathers and times of day tend to make the safest drivers after they start out on their own. (See the IAM’s young driver report on

Parents are often ignorant of the risk to their sons on rural roads and at night with friends. For 16 year old girls being a passenger in a car driven by an older boy is also high risk. This information should be widely available,

The Role of Technology

For the highest risk drivers ‘controlling and monitoring’ technology may be an answer esp as part of a court disposal. If such technology could be linked to insurance discounts or other incentives then it may be useful in the early months of driving. Several insurance companies have abandoned early trials of ‘black box’ type equipment on the grounds of cost and lack of flexibility. Speed control equipment does not address the major issues of loss of control on rural roads.

For the vast majority of young drivers car based technology such as ESC and ABS as well as modern crash protection would be most useful on a day to day basis. Any measure that authorities can take to encourage uptake of more modern cars would be welcome. This should include crashes in the course of business involving young drivers and companies should be encouraged to take a more responsible approach to all driving by their employees.

Enforcement

High profile enforcement targeting the highest risk behaviours is an essential part of the approach to reducing young driver casualties. This must include multi agency joined up working to deny uninsured and untaxed drivers the chance to commit further crimes. There is a clear link between criminality and propensity to be involved in road crashes.

The IAM would also welcome a real elevation in the perception that safety at work is being taken seriously by the police. We offer courses to companies but uptake is slow as few really believe that they will be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter. A few high profile successful prosecutions would be an ideal marketing tool for road safety training providers.

Summary

The IAM wants to see clear encouragement of a lifelong learning approach to driving by the provision of accessible advanced driving and short assessment courses across Scotland signposted by the authorities and linked to insurance incentives. Attitudes are embedded early so consistent provision of road safety training to young people in their formative early teenage years is essential. Finally we do believe that Scotland can act as a test bed for innovative ideas such as multi phase driver training.

Neil Greig

IAM

Director of Policy and Research