TTC highlights the success of employer driver training for 17–24-year-olds in preventing ‘driving-for-work’ accidents
New research[i] conducted by training and compliance expert TTC, found that 60% of adults it surveyed welcomed the Government’s decision to abandon plans for a graduated driver licensing (GDL). The scheme would have placed a set of restrictions on new drivers aged 17-24, who have recently passed their practical test for an initial period of time. When asked what other road safety interventions for young drivers should be considered, 68% backed enforcing a ‘zero alcohol or drug’ drive limit for all drivers, with just over half of respondents supporting the introduction of motorway driving as part of the practical driving test.
A GDL scheme is a multi-stage system designed to gradually introduce young, novice drivers to full driving privileges, with measures focused on reducing risk. Successfully adopted in countries such as the USA, New Zealand and Sweden, they typically include restrictions like driving only with a more experienced adult, limited driving hours, and passenger limits, to help them gain experience and improve safety on the roads before becoming a fully independent driver.
Keeping young drivers safe on the road is imperative, so what other options are there? TTC is spotlighting the growing success of interactive driver training for young adults in the workplace as another alternative. Whilst the Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that 4,959 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes in 2023 involving drivers aged under 25 – this figure has decreased by 60% since 2004.[ii] A contributing factor to this decline is believed to be employers proactively fulfilling their duty of care to young drivers by educating them on high-risk aspects of driving. This includes driver distraction, speed management, drink and drug driving, seat belt use, driver fatigue and careless driving.
“The news that the GDL has been scrapped comes as a blow to many road safety campaigners who have promoted it as a positive move in a bid to help reduce road casualty figures,” comments Rich Hickin, Group Sales Director at TTC Group. “However, driver training is an essential tool to help young drivers reduce their own risk, giving them the information and tools they need to make informed driving decisions and stay safe on the road. Employers can and are making a positive impact on reducing accidents by investing in interactive classroom or virtual workshop driver training.”
Respondents to TTC’s survey also believe education is key. To really hit home the impact of reckless driving by young drivers, 47% of respondents supported the addition of a documentary on the ‘real stories’ about young drivers who have been killed on the road and the consequences on their friends and families as part of the theory test. Just under 1 in 4 would like to see incentivising young adult education facilities to offer theory-based advanced driver training as part of their curriculum.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said the Government was exploring ways to tackle the issue of road deaths “without unfairly penalising young drivers”. The DfT has now received the final report for Driver 2020, the largest young driver research project aimed at improving the safety of newly qualified drivers by studying interventions and training methods that can enhance their skills and confidence during their first year of driving after passing their test.
“Ensuring there are effective and comprehensive road safety strategies in place for all road users will help reduce the number of people killed or injured on UK roads. However, around 44% of people aged 17 to 24 in the UK have a full driving license, and many of these will be using their own private vehicle for work purposes or driving a company vehicle. Therefore, the recommendations that come out of the Driver2020 report are eagerly awaited so that we can drive down young driver incidents still further,” concludes Hickin.
For further information please visit Young Driver in Employment – Interactive Training
