Dangerous Driving a Concern Amongst Young Drivers

The Department for Transport (DfT) data shows that one in five new drivers has an accident within a year of passing their test, highlighting the heightened risk associated with inexperience.

Additionally, accidents involving young drivers result in approximately 5,000 fatalities or serious injuries annually. This further stresses the need for increased focus on safe driving behaviours within this age group, which many insurance brokers and providers will echo.

Recent studies by the motor trade road safety charity IAM RoadSmart reveal a concerning trend that young drivers aged 17-25 are responsible for more than a third of all dangerous driving endorsements in the UK despite comprising only 7% of fully licensed drivers.

This data highlights a significant issue in road safety among younger motorists, with the charity calling for more robust measures to address this imbalance.

Dangerous driving endorsement, marked as DD40 on a driver’s license, is issued when a driver is convicted of actions that fall far below acceptable standards, posing serious risks to themselves and other road users.

Offences include excessive speeding, running red lights, and aggressive driving behaviours, all offences that will invalidate your insurance policy if involved in an accident.

Data gathered from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the DVLA shows that in 2021, 1,585 young drivers received DD40 endorsements, making up over 25% of all such endorsements that year.

By 2023, this number had increased to 1,928, accounting for over 35% of all dangerous driving endorsements. As of mid-2024, young drivers represent 38% of all dangerous driving convictions issued in the UK.

In contrast, drivers aged between 26-65 received 72% of these endorsements in 2021. This figure dropped to 63% by 2023 and reduced again to 60% by mid-2024. Drivers over 66 account for just 1% of dangerous driving endorsements, underscoring the higher risk concentration among younger age groups.

IAM RoadSmart urges the government to consider implementing Graduated Driving Licenses (GDLs) to mitigate risky driving among young drivers. GDLs could limit new drivers’ exposure to high-risk driving conditions by introducing restrictions, such as curfews or passenger limits during the early months of driving.

Further research conducted by IAM RoadSmart surveyed 1,000 drivers aged 18-26, exposing additional concerning behaviours.

According to the survey, 31% of young drivers admitted to taking pictures or recording videos while driving, and over half shared the content on social media. 16% admitted to texting while driving, which can result in six penalty points and a £200 fine. 5% acknowledged driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Despite these admissions, 90% of respondents believe they follow road rules consistently, underscoring a disconnect between perception and behaviour.

This new data emphasises the critical importance of full concentration and responsible driving behaviour by all private and motor trade drivers. Road safety remains a pressing concern as organisations continue to work toward solutions that prioritise safety for all road users.