By far the biggest single cause of accidents is driving too fast for the conditions. About two thirds of all accidents in which people are killed or injured happen on roads where the speed limit is 30mph or less. Even in good conditions the difference between 30mph and 35mph is an extra stopping distance or around six and a half metres, longer than two Minis. Should a pedestrian or cyclist be hit at that extra speed, the force on impact increases by over a third. 1 in 3 accidents involve men under the age of 20.
Young males pass the present driving test more easily than others.
The present test is one of lower level skills rather than judgement and attitude. Passengers with young novice drivers also run a higher risk of being in a serious accident. Research into hazard perception clearly shows that inexperienced drivers are 2 seconds slower recognising possible dangers compared with experienced drivers. In an accident a young male driver is 9 times more likely to be at fault than an older driver with the same length of experience. Young drivers, particularly males, consistently overestimate their own driving ability.