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Motoring news

Youngest drivers 'twice as likely' to crash

11/02/2010

The youngest drivers are twice as likely to have an accident as the average, new research suggests.

And crashes involving young drivers are five times more likely to result in an injury.

The findings come from a study of two million Admiral car insurance policy holders, which found that 13.2% of 17-year-olds and 12.8% of 18-year-olds had a crash, compared to a 6.5% average over a similar one-year period across all other ages. By contrast, just 2% of those over 50 had an accident in a typical year.

In addition to the increased chance of being involved in an accident, claims relating to the youngest drivers also tend to be significantly more expensive, the research found.

According to Admiral, the average cost of an accident involving a 17- or 18-year-old driver is almost £3,500 - twice the overall average of £1,741. The insurer said that the expense and injury data pointed to young drivers having "more serious crashes at high speed".

"From our point of view driving experience makes a huge difference and is the main reason older motorists have lower premiums," said Admiral managing director Sue Longthorn.

"It isn't until motorists reach 25 that their accident statistics improve substantially, but it really is the youngest ones who are the biggest risk."

Research published in 2008 by the Institute of Advanced Motorists found that almost a quarter of all accidents where there was a serious injury or fatality involved the under-25s, despite the age group making up less than 10% of all drivers.

Moreover, in a poll commissioned for Road Safety Week 2009, 18% of 17-25-year-olds admitted having driven after drinking alcohol.

Admiral insurance is sponsoring the Young Driver scheme, through which young people aged 11-16 can take driving lessons in a dual-control car at specially designed off-highway locations.