BIBA’s Graeme Trudgill gave evidence to the Committee in October
The committee’s report published this week notes a 52% drop in the number of young drivers killed or seriously injured on UK roads between 2005 and 2019. Progress has since stalled, and young car drivers remain over-represented in the statistics for involvement in fatal road traffic collisions.
The report recognises the reduction is partly due to improvements in road safety, testing and vehicle standards but also due to dramatic growth in the use of telematics technology that incentivises safer driving.
The report gives an overview of several workstreams within the Department for Transport (DfT):
Driver 2020 research project to explore several technological and educational based measures. The committee calls for a progress update by July 2021 to include preliminary findings into the effectiveness of telematics to improve road safety.
Pilot a system of ‘modular’ learning with compulsory driver training in different driving conditions. The committee calls for an outline of the criteria to measure the effectiveness of the pilot to be published and an update by October 2021.
The committee recommends further work by the DfT in these areas:
- Study of crash rates for older novice drivers (over 25).
- Research to investigate whether drivers who learn through intensive driving courses are at increased danger during their first two years of driving.
- Resume study into the social and economic consequences of graduated driving licensing schemes promised in 2019 Road Safety Statement.
- Theory part of driving test should be developed to include adequate questioning on driving at night and while carrying passengers.
We continue to press for Government to incentivise more young drivers to purchase telematics policies.
