Ban young people from driving at night to save lives, says study
Wednesday 22 September 2010 | By Evolution InternetBack to Newsroom
Pickup leasing drivers could find the roads are safer if young motorists are banned from using their vehicles at night, a new study has claimed.
According to research from academics at Cardiff University, introducing graduated driver licensing (GDL), which places restrictions on young motorists such as not being able to drive at night, a total ban on alcohol and not being able to carry teenage passengers, could save 200 lives per year.
Similar schemes operated in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many parts of the United States.
Researchers analysed every road crash in the UK from 2000 to 2007 involving drivers aged 17 to 19 to reach their conclusions.
Dr Sarah Jones, who led the research, said: "GDL works in other countries and there's no good reason why it wouldn't work here. The cost to the NHS would be significantly reduced.
"It's not only lives that would be saved. Insurance costs should drop substantially if the number of crashes involving young drivers were reduced."
More than four out of ten deaths on UK roads happen during hours of darkness, despite there being fewer road users at this time.
