Poll: Should late-night curfews be introduced for newly-qualified drivers?
Teenage drivers are involved in almost one in eight road accidents involving injury, according to a survey.
Based on nationwide statistics covering five years, the survey showed that 11.9 per cent of all road casualties were injured or killed in collisions involving a car driver aged 17-19.
This was despite those aged between 17 and 19 making up only 1.5 per cent of licensed drivers.
Covering the five years from 2008 to 2012, the survey work was commissioned by the RAC Foundation and carried out by transport research laboratory TRL.
TRL also made a conservative estimate of what the reduction in casualties would be in each area if a system of graduated driving licensing was introduced.
Among other possible requirements – like a minimum learner period and lower alcohol limit for new drivers – GDL schemes typically place temporary restrictions on newly-qualified young drivers in the first few months after they pass their tests. These restrictions can include a limit on the number of young passengers they can carry and a late-night curfew. The aim of GDL is to limit young drivers' exposure to risk until they have gained experience.
Based on the experience of other countries where GDL is in operation, TRL concluded that across Britain about 4,500 fewer people would be hurt in an average year.
