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Young drivers: the British Government should act on the Transport Committee's 'young drivers' report says the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Commenting on the publication of the House of Commons Transport Committee’s report on novice drivers, Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, said: “This is an excellent report. The Committee’s recommendations are what we have been calling for: of a minimum learning period, a structured learning programme and restrictions on newly qualified drivers carrying young passengers. Every day three young drivers are killed or seriously injured. Every one is a personal tragedy.

“We urge the Government to act now on these recommendations, to ensure that today’s young drivers become tomorrow’s safer motorists. Every day that passes brings another avoidable tragedy.”

Giving evidence to the Transport Committee, the ABI had proposed:

A minimum one–year learning period for all learner drivers. During that period learners would gain experience under a variety of driving conditions, such as at night and in bad weather. Its introduction in Sweden has led to a 40% fall in young driver road casualties.

Newly qualified young drivers aged under 20 should be limited to carrying no more than one passenger under age 20 during their first six months of driving. The crash risk for young drivers increases threefold when carrying three or more passengers. Similar limits in California have led to a 20% fall in young driver accidents.

For more information, view the Transoport Committe report on novice drivers on the Parliament website and visit the Association of British Insurers website.

The ABI is the trade association for Britain’s insurance industry. The nearly 400 member companies attached to the ABI provide over 91% of the insurance business in the UK. It represents insurance companies to the Government, and to the regulatory and other agencies, and is an influential voice on public policy and financial services issues. ABI member companies hold up to a sixth of all investments traded on the London Stock Exchange, on behalf of millions of pensioners and savers.

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