New Driver Tips

Passing your driving test opens up a whole new world to thousands of teenagers every year. We were all there once, and remember the excitement of going out for the first time after we passed our test (normally having borrowed our parent’s car!). Generally speaking, we all go on to become safe and conscientious drivers, but those first few months and years are fraught with danger.

Even as a careful and conscientious driver, the fact is that once you’ve passed your test, driving is a very different experience and – in simple terms – you haven’t got the awareness that comes from being behind the wheel for a few years.

The statistics don’t lie, and figures from the THINK campaign show that a staggering 1 in 5 new drivers have an accident within the first 2 years of passing their test. And the figure is higher than 15 years ago.

In addition to this, new drivers are also effectively on probation for the first 2 years after passing: if they get 6 points then they have to re-sit their test. If this happens then the already astronomic cost of insurance will rise further or they will not be able to get insurance at all.

So, what can be done to improve the record of young drivers, and bring their statistics in line with the rest of the driving community?

Here are a few ideas if you’ve just passed your test:

• Think about taking a Pass Plus course. This is endorsed by the Driver Standards Agency and requires new drivers to pass 6 further modules which improve their knowledge and safety when driving: in town; in all weather; on rural roads; at night; on dual carriageways and on motorways. The fact is that many new drivers have only driven around their test route for the last few months of their pre-test practice, so they need to learn more about other types of driving.

• Choose your vehicle. As ‘more dangerous’ drivers it is all the more important for new drivers to drive safe cars. Choose cars with a favourable Euro NCAP rating. Remember that it is not just ‘boy racers’ who have more accidents, all new drivers are at risk. The good news is that the safest cars are usually the cheapest.

• Take responsibility. If new drivers have their own insurance policy, and are in charge of taxing and servicing their cars then they will a better understanding of the responsibilities of being a car owner, and this will be reflected in their attitude towards driving.

• Special insurance policy. If new drivers want to begin benefitting from the no-claims bonuses that make driving cheaper for the rest of us, then they must get a policy in their name from the outset. This can be very expensive initially but no claims discounts kick in after the first year and reduce the cost dramatically – an incentive to drive safely! There are also specific policies available that restrict driving between the hours of 11pm and 5am (a hotspot for teen accidents) and reduce premiums accordingly.

Whether it is you or your children who have recently passed the driving test, the first 2 years are crucial and it is everyone’s responsibility to strive to reduce the shocking figures for new drivers.