Globally, 16- to 24-year-old drivers are greatly over-represented in accident and fatality statistics. They pose a greater risk than other drivers to themselves, their passengers and other road users. For each young driver killed it is likely that 1.3 or more passengers will be killed. Despite overall improvements in road safety, the specific problem of young driver risk remains. Death rates are often 3-fold higher for young men than young women. Inexperience, rate of maturation, gender, and use of older vehicles as factors in the accident proneness of young drivers are discussed. Accident reduction measures include resisting any downward pressure on the driving age, improved training, increased pre-licence practice, more stringent restrictions on alcohol intake for young drivers, bans on driving at night or with other young passengers, effective law enforcement, use of new technologies, education, and the availability of public transport are considered. Difficulties with the implementation of new measures are described. For the covering abstract see ITRD E138063.
Samenvatting