Government must act now to save young lives

The ABI (Association of British Insurers) today called for the Government to act to reduce the high number of young people killed or seriously injured on the UK’s roads.

Every day four young people are killed or seriously injured in road accidents, over 1,400 a year. Young male drivers are ten times as likely to be involved in accidents than more experienced motorists.

Speaking to over fifty MP’s today, Stephen Haddrill, the ABI’s Director General, said: “Every death of a young driver is a tragedy. Too many young drivers are ill- equipped for the dangers of driving. We call on the Government to introduce a new learning programme urgently and a one-year learning period.

“It is also vital to restrict the number of passengers novice drivers can carry. A young driver is three times as likely to be killed if carrying three or more passengers. Our proposals have worked elsewhere – in USA and Sweden – and it is time they were adopted here. Every day that passes brings fresh and avoidable tragedy”.