Car crash news
01/10/2010

Graduated licensing may cut young drivers' compensation claims

Young drivers should have a special licence for up to two years after passing their tests which would reduce car crash numbers so saving lives and reducing compensation claims say researchers from Cardiff University.

Presenting their researches to an international road safety conference in London, the report's authors, led by Dr Sally Jones, proposed other restrictions too.

A ban on night driving, drinking alcohol and having young passengers could save 200 lives annually and there would be 1,700 fewer injuries suffered in crashes if graduated licensing (GDL) was brought in for 17 to 24 year old motorists.

The university team found that 20% of new drivers have a road traffic accident in the first six months after passing their tests.

Australia, New Zealand, Canada and parts of the USA already have similar licences.

Dr Jones said, as the scheme worked in other countries, there was no reason why it should not work in the UK with a corresponding decrease in accident casualties, personal injury and compensation claims involving under-25s.