18 years olds are 3 times more likely then 45 year old drivers to get into an accident. As new drivers they often don’t have the experience to deal with unexpected and hazardous situations. Even if they drive safely it does not mean that others on the road are being just as cautious. Part of becoming a good driver is not only watching out for yourself but other road users – which is virtually impossible for young drivers!
A good way of controlling their driving habits comes in the form of young driver insurance from Coverbox. This is Pay As You Go insurance so you only pay for the miles you actually drive. It can change driving habits by making the most dangeroud driving periods (between 11pm to 6am) much more expensive to insure.
However inexperience isn’t the only thing that sets apart younger drivers from the elders. Attitude has a large role to play in dangerous driving. Young people, particularly men, are often much more assured in their driving abilities, to a greater extent than they should be, and take on unnecessary risks because they think they can handle it. Statistically, if a young driver has friends in the car with them they are twice as likely to attempt hazardous driving to make an impression. Overtaking vehicles that are already going too fast, jerky wheel movements, and speeding are risky feats that young drivers often attempt. It’s men who are two times as likely to attempt these manouvers. A third of them will have an accident within two years of passing the driving test.
However young drivers are not totally at fault. We as parents or role models set the standards with our own driving behaviour.It is up to us to show them the correct way to handle hazardous driving situations. Try and set firm limits with your own children and then hold them to them as it’s their own safety and future that they are risking.
