Managing young drivers' occupational road risk

Employers should consider the experience and training of young drivers at work as early as the recruitment stage, according to the findings of a report from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Young drivers up to age 25 make up an estimated 8% of the licence holders but are known to be involved in around 25% of road accidents. They are more likely to be involved in an accident than any other age group and four times more likely to be involved in an accident when accompanied by passengers their own age. 

Kathleen Braidwood, RoSPA Scotland’s road safety officer, said:

“It is estimated that one in three crashes involves a vehicle being driven for work. Company car drivers are around 50% more likely to crash per mile and are more likely to be the party legally responsible for causing a crash. 

“Young drivers face, and can create, a higher risk than more experienced drivers. Accidents can be costly in business terms for employers but more importantly, in human terms, they can devastate families and communities.”