This article in Luton Today cites an IAM report, which claims that 60% of new, young, male drivers think they’re more skilful than the average road user (it’s only 32% of young females who think the same way – which is still pretty high).
In spite of being twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured than anyone else, and in spite of being only 8% of all licence holders, they account for 30% of all “occupant fatalities”.
It is also pointed out that this group is more likely to take post-test training if there are financial incentives. In other words, if someone else pays for it, and if they get reduced insurance as a result.
I agree wholeheartedly with the statement that young males suffer from overconfidence and inexperience – and that these traits together are a very bad combination. But I have my reservations over further training being the Magic Pill which will resolve all problems.
Young people who drive dangerously drive that way they do because they want to.
They will not have been taught to do it, and they know they shouldn’t Heck, it isn’t rocket science to realise that doing 50mph in a 30mph zone is illegal, or that doing 70mph on a country lane in the dark when you can’t see what’s coming up is idiotic – someone who can’t figure that out shouldn’t be allowed out without a leash!
Additional training is useful but it can, at best, only provide extra tools that might – just might – prevent them from killing themselves when they drive stupidly and get in a mess.
But it won’t prevent them driving stupidly in the first place.
Trying to lay the blame on the training they received up to their tests is on the hidden agenda certain organisations keep pushing.