Play your part

4 February 2022

Young driver safety

According to research from Monash University, a first time P-plater is 33 times more likely to have an accident than a learner driver.

That number halves six months after getting their licence.

Clearly, experience counts when young people get out on the road.

However, there are other disturbing numbers.

Forty-five percent of all young Australian injury deaths are caused by road accidents, and almost half of all hospitalisations are drivers involved in a road traffic accident – another quarter are pedestrians.

Young drivers – aged between 17 and 25 – represent one quarter of all Australian road deaths, yet they only represent 10 to 15 percent of drivers.

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the picture – young drivers are at risk of serious injury or death.

As a parent – and Victorian motorist – this is simply not good enough.

We all need to play a part. Here are some things we can do:

• Set a good example when driving
• Teach your children to drive safely
• Invest in driver training courses.

There’s something else you can do – give your children the safest vehicle possible to drive during their formative years.

That might mean letting them drive your car or, if you can, buy them the safest vehicle possible.

By that I mean a vehicle with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, with plenty of airbags and other safety gear that will keep them alive if they get into strife.

It’s the best investment you could ever make.

Words: VACC CEO, Geoff Gwilym.

Share your thoughts! E: ceo@vacc.com.au. As featured in the Herald Sun 4 February 2022.