There's an interesting study out today by the British Institute of Advanced Motorists, or IAM, on young drivers. Driver fatalities are down among young people, but they're still high. Drivers and passengers age 16 to 19 have the highest fatality rate, and young drivers are responsible for one-third of all pedestrian fatalities. Not surprisingly, the death risk to young drivers is reduced by half with every five years of driving experience they accumulate.
What caught my eye in the report was mention of Austria, which has an interesting system for young drivers. Once they get their licenses, they must have contact with a qualified instructor three times during the next 12 to 18 months, with an assessment drive included. The driver must then visit a Road Safety Centre, where he or she must handle the car on a wet surface, speed into a corner, and then learn the effect of speed on stopping distances. There are discussion sessions that talk about peer pressure and its effect on young drivers, and finally, there's an "eco-drive" assessment.
The result? According to IAM, fatalities of young male drivers in Austria has been reduced by thirty percent.
That's huge. And that means safer roads for everyone. Is it costly? I'm guessing it is. But I'm also guessing that it's a damn sight cheaper in the long run.
