This is coincidental. On a forum frequented by young, new or learner drivers, someone is shooting his mouth off about older drivers and suggesting there is nothing wrong with younger ones.
And then, this article comes along.
Young male drivers are being all but banished from the roads with news that the average insurance policy for guys aged 17-20 years now exceeds £4,000.
The article explains that by getting married and putting his wife on the policy as a named driver he’ll likely get a £1,000 reduction!
However, what the article doesn’t explain is why the average young male has to pay this kind of money in the first place. You need to look elsewhere for that…
A look at road accident figures helps explain why insurance premiums are so high for young drivers.
Five facts about accidents involving young drivers
- 1 in 5 drivers are involved in a crash during their first year on the road
- male drivers aged under 21 are 10 times more likely to have a car accident than male drivers aged 35 or over
- young drivers have a higher proportion of crashes at night than older drivers
- 1 in 8 British drivers are under 25, but a quarter of drivers who die in traffic collisions are in this age group
- In 2007, 40% of passengers killed or seriously injured – meaning lost limbs, paralysis, brain injury and other life-changing injuries – were in a car driven by a young driver*
Being aware of the risks that come with being an inexperienced driver can help you to think about how you can improve your driving.
* Young driver accident statistics
- Road Casualties Great Britain 2006, Department for Transport
- DSA, The Schools Programme, Driving Standards Agency, 2000
- Association of British Insurers, 2007
- Night-time Accidents, H. Ward, Centre for Transport Studies, University College London, 2005
- Road Casualties Great Britain 2007, Department for Transport
Is any more proof needed? These are not just made up figures – they’re real ones recorded by major players in the field.
On the forum in question, young drivers are revealing exactly why these statistics exist. They talk of “having to overtake” people who aren’t driving at 60mph in a 60mph zone. They talk of getting angry at a slower, older driver in front of them, and at having to get past them.
Which of thse has the greater benefit?
- getting angry and overtaking
- getting angry and just staying behind for the short time involved
For young people, it’s that first option.
And that’s why they have to pay huge sums for their insurance.
Update: On the forum I mentioned, someone has started a thread asking why insurance for young drivers has gone up so much over the last few years. Honestly, it’s like banging your head against a brick wall!
One more time:
- young drivers have more – and more serious - accidents than older ones
It’s that simple. It’s got little to do with fraud (as someone is claiming on the forum – they’ve got their stories mixed up there). Just saying “but I’m a safe driver” doesn’t alter the fact that you’re also 17 and the ink is still wet on your licence. You cannot prove that you are different to any other 17-year old, therefore you have to accept being treated like any other 17-year old.
If you want to be seen as different, then prove it. Then your no claims discounts will bring your insurance down.