The AA Charitable Trust launches interactive map of ‘riskiest’ roads for young drivers
21 May 2021
New research from the AA, funded by the Road Safety Trust, looked at more than 70,000 young drivers involved in crashes on rural roads over 6 years and found the following:
- 71% of fatal crashes involving young drivers are on rural roads.
- Young drivers over-represented in rural crashes by 9%.
- Rural crash risk varies by time of day and day of week.
- Single vehicle rural crash risk varies depending on weather conditions.
- Substance impairment is more likely to be a contributory factor on Sundays and in the early hours.
- The worst rural roads for young drivers are the A229 in Kent and the A6076 in County Durham.
The AA has said that data from its new interactive map, which highlights the ‘riskiest’ rural roads for young drivers, will also be shared with relevant and interested local authorities to help highlight those roads which appear to pose the greatest risk.
Charitable Trust director Edmund King AA said, “This ground-breaking analysis shows, for the first time, the most dangerous rural roads for young drivers as well as an in-depth study of contributory factors involved in those crashes.
“Many young drivers and indeed parents are unaware that rural roads pose a specific and significant risk to young drivers and potentially are much more dangerous than motorways or urban roads. 71% of fatal car crashes involving young drivers take place on rural roads. The research should help target driver education at the times and places young drivers are most at risk.
“Our data clearly shows that the rural road risk is highest for the youngest drivers on our roads and decreases with each year of age. This is a clear sign greater education and exposure to rural roads helps alleviate the risks they pose.
“This is just the first stage in what we plan to be an ongoing campaign to really improve the education of young drivers on rural roads.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said, “Rural roads are often narrow with blind bends, which is why it’s essential we raise awareness among young people on how to drive safely on them.
“I strongly support the AA in their work to improve the education of drivers. Our award-winning THINK! campaign challenges social norms among younger drivers – including attitudes to speeding and driving on rural roads –and I look forward to working together to prevent further tragedies.”
Chief Executive from The Road Safety Trust Sally Lines OBE said, “We are pleased to have funded such informative and insightful research. It is important to be able to clearly identify risks to young drivers on rural roads and take steps forward to address those, whether it is through education, infrastructure improvements, or both.
“We want to make UK roads safer for all road users and these findings provide the platform to be able to help reduce the risk of death or serious injury to young drivers.”
Read more about a case study with South Central Ambulance Services here.
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