27/05/2014

Young Drivers Face Late-Night Curfew

One in eight road injuries involve a driver between 17 and 19 years of age, according to a survey carried out by the RAC.

The news comes amid calls to implement a late-night curfew on teenage drivers, with the aim of cutting the number of car-crash deaths in which they are involved.

The survey found an average of 11.9% of road accidents in which people are injured or killed involved a driver between 17 and 19, despite the fact that the age group accounts for only 1.5% of licence holders.

Dyfed Powys in South Wales is the most affected place, with 18% of road accidents involving a teen driver.

The RAC survey covers five years between 2008 and 2012 and suggests newly qualified young drivers should have a limit on the number of passengers they carry for the first few months after taking their test.

The RAC said that one in five young drivers will have an accident within six months of passing their test.

The RAC's Stephen Glaister said: "The Government has repeatedly delayed announcing its strategy to help reduce young driver accidents, but here is yet another piece of evidence which shows graduated licensing can significantly cut death and injury."

(CVS/IT)

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