The Younger Driver

Within Wolverhampton Advanced Motorists we are dedicated to improving road safety and reducing the risk of collisions and injury on our roads. The great majority of all collisions can be avoided, a little better observation, better planning and better vehicle management and you can not only see yourself being safer but also enjoying the benefits of reduced insurance and respect from your colleagues who will see you as being a better driver. Younger drivers, those under thirty, are significantly more likely to be involved in a road traffic collision than older drivers so it is worth doing yourself a favour and extending the knowledge you gained during your DVSA Test with additional skills and capabilities.

If you have any questions with regard to the advantages of advanced motoring then feel free to contact us, you can use the contact-us page on this web site or e-mail our Younger Driver Ambassador by clicking here. No question will be considered too silly and we would love to see you at one of our meetings or simply to have a chat via e-mail, WA or whatever.

Remember that we are always happy to take you out for a no commitment and free of charge Assessment Drive, get yourself an independent and unbiased view of your driving skills.
 

Improving the Safety of Younger Drivers – IAM Policy

Road crashes are the biggest killer of young people in the UK today and yet road safety does not merit the same priority as issues such as knife crime or drugs

Young people have no incentive to treat driving as a skill for life and often seek to learn as quickly and as cheaply as possible. New drivers are most at risk in their first year of driving and yet the current system abandons them to learn by their own, sometimes fatal, mistakes.

The risk factors are well known; lack of experience in all traffic conditions (including rural roads, darkness and poor weather), distraction by peer passengers or mobile phone use and alcohol. Choosing effective restrictions to limit the effect of these risk factors should be the key objective of the government in creating a new licensing system that is practical, affordable and effective in reducing young driver road deaths and injuries.

IAM RoadSmart recommendations

  • Road safety education should be part of the National Curriculum and theory and hazard perception training and testing should take place within the education system
  • IAM RoadSmart support a 12 month minimum learning period with an online learning log for learner drivers to complete prior to taking the practical test. Low speed parking and turning manoeuvres could be assessed as part of this process. There is evidence that around 120 hours of driving experience in mixed conditions would produce safer new drivers but not all of this has to be with a paid for instructor. L drivers are a safe group and there is no case for increasing insurance premiums when they use the family car
  • The practical driving test should include driving on high speed roads
  • IAM RoadSmart strongly supports the development of a post test phase to the licensing system. After passing the practical test refresher and eco driving lessons must be taken before full license status is granted. IAM RoadSmart wants to work with stakeholders to develop the best solution using the resources currently available in the UK
  • Alongside these interventions IAM RoadSmart supports some graduated license controls in the first year/six months of driving to allow only one peer passenger (but no limit on older passengers) and a lower blood alcohol limit
  • IAM RoadSmart do not support night time curfews on young drivers as they reduce opportunities to gain experience, impact on the economy and job prospects and raise problems of enforcement
  • IAM RoadSmart is ready to provide its knowledge and expertise in developing the content of the minimum learning period and post test interventions, as well as on line learning and new recording systems
  • Low income drivers should not be disadvantaged by an extended system of learning to drive. At IAM RoadSmart we believe there is strong potential for volunteers and employers to help all drivers gain a full licence.