Gwent has the second highest number of young road traffic casualties in England and Wales according to new statistics.
Figures released by the RAC Foundation show that between 2008 and 2012 17% of incidents where someone was killed or injured involved 17 to 19-year-olds in Gwent, second only to Dyfed Powys.
The report by the Transport Research Laboratory shows on average nearly 12% of road casualties involved a car driver aged 17 to 19, despite them making up only 1.5% of licensed drivers.
Gwent Police’s Roads Policing Superintendent, Paul Evans, said: “Statistically, young drivers, aged between 17 and 24, fall into a high risk category of those more likely to be involved in a collision.
“In an effort to raise awareness and improve road safety amongst young drivers, officers from our Roads Policing Unit carry out regular campaigns with our partner agencies, the most recent took place in February this year.
“We hope that by speaking and engaging with young motorists during our campaigns and the ad hoc operations and initiatives we run we raise awareness of road safety and the risks involved in being on the road.
“We recognise that passing your driving test is a massive step in gaining independence, we just want to make sure that young drivers appreciate that this comes with great responsibility.”
The RAC said one in five young drivers will have an accident within six months of passing their tests and are calling for Gradual Driving Licences (GDLs) to be introduced in a bid to cut casualties on the roads.
Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Whichever way you cut it young drivers pose a significant and disproportionate risk to themselves and to others and it is in rural areas where the casualty rate is highest.”
Tragically too many precious young lives are cut short on our roads, I think our driving test is too easy and not broad enough to equip a newly qualified driver for today’s roads. Pupils are taught to pass a test and not enough emphasis is placed on driver attitude and road manners, there is an excellent book called ‘Roadcraft’, I would recommend any driver read it. Many young drivers wrongly believe that their quick thinking, fast reflexes and supreme car control will get them out of any situation – but there is no substitute for experience. A young driver might well think they know their car and capabilities, but a car loaded with your mates will handle completely differently to one with just a driver in it. Pass plus should be made compulsory, and the IAM should do more to encourage drivers to take their courses or have their driving assessed – driving is fun and should be enjoyed, but young people please do it safely and stay alive.
Unfortunately some of the young drivers think they are invincible and have no regard for the outcome of their actions. They play their xbox driving games crash and blink, reset and they are back on the road. Maybe if these game programmers were to show them the real outcome of such crashes and they can no longer use the game it would teach them to take a bit more care.