Young Driver
Young male drivers attacked by report
Fri, 28 Oct 2005
Some young motorists show an "alarming disregard" for road safety when driving at night, a report has suggested.
An AA Motoring Trust survey has revealed that young male drivers often use the opportunity of quiet night-time roads to test their cars "to the limit".
Of those surveyed, some claimed to regularly drink and drive, while others thought being able to see the approach of another car's headlights made driving at night safer.
Some even said that they regarded having an accident as a "rite of passage".
AA Motoring Trust road safety head, Andrew Howard, said: "Inexperienced driving, a cavalier attitude to life, a night-time social life involving alcohol, and driving too fast, are combining to kill and maim young people and other road users every night of the week.
"While most young drivers have the skills to drive safely, this study identifies a dangerous minority of thrill-seeking young male drivers."
Pushing up young driver car insurance cost for safer motorists, male drivers between the ages of 17 and 20 were found to be seven times more at risk from accidents that male drivers as a whole.
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