Based on evidence, everyone should be concerned about young drivers.

  not only are young drivers and their passengers at danger during their early years of solo driving, but so are other road users.

Young drivers are disproportionately represented in Australia's road collision and death statistics, although making up a tiny fraction of the country's drivers. The situation is also becoming worse rather than better.

The age range of 17 to 25 accounted for 22% of all driver fatalities in Australia in 2023, closely behind the 40–64 age group, which was the group with the greatest percentage of road deaths.

The number of young drivers killed on the roads in 2023 is higher than it was in 2022 (20% of driver fatalities were in the 17–25 age group), and it is much higher than it was in 2019 (18% of all driver deaths were among young drivers).

These statistics are especially concerning since, historically, drivers under the age of 25 have made up just 14% of all license holders yet have been responsible for over 25% of all traffic fatalities.

Experts say that for young individuals driving, a lack of expertise coupled with a tendency to speed, social pressure, and other factors may be lethal.

In Australia, the Northern Territory's minimum age to drive alone is sixteen and a half, whereas the majority of states and territories need drivers to be seventeen years old to get a provisional license and drive unaccompanied.

In a prior Drive survey with almost 6000 participants, 44% of participants said that "18 and not a day sooner" was the appropriate age for solo driving.

A further 17% said, "as soon as they're able to pass more advanced driving tests," and 12% thought Australia should increase the legal age of unaccompanied driving to 21.

Drive is teaming with Nine.com.au to promote awareness about the availability and efficacy of defensive driving training courses for young drivers as we approach the busy and usually dangerous Easter season on our roads.

These courses aim to equip young drivers with defensive driving techniques and raise their awareness of the consequences of poor behaviors like speeding and distraction by putting them in emergency situations requiring last-minute braking, high-speed accident avoidance, and emergency lane changes.

Here are some reasons why you should be concerned about the safety of young drivers even if you are not a young person yourself, but rather a parent, friend, family member, sibling, or mentor to one.

Young individuals also account for a significant share of fatal passenger incidents.

Young passengers are also at danger on our roadways, in addition to young drivers.

Ages 17 to 25 accounted for 21% of passenger fatalities in 2023.

This implies that even while the young person in your life isn't operating a vehicle, they might still be in danger if they are being driven about by peers their own age.

Older automobiles are often driven by young drivers.

The majority of road fatalities for drivers between the ages of 17 and 25 occurred in automobiles driven by people between the ages of 15 and 19, according to BITRE statistics from 2021.

The research indicates that younger drivers are usually seen operating older vehicles, whether it's because of financial limitations or they're just borrowing a car from a family member.

This may indicate that they are more vulnerable than those who drive newer, more sophisticated vehicles due to general wear and tear and the absence of contemporary safety features like accident avoidance.

Teenage drivers are more prone to being distracted.

Young drivers who grew up in the digital era maintain connections even while driving.

One in five Australians between the ages of 18 and 27 felt comfortable using a phone while driving, according to a Budget Direct poll conducted in 2023 among 1002 respondents.  

Comparatively, just 8% of those 48 to 57 years old and 15% of people 38 to 47 years old do the same.

It is estimated that using a cell phone while operating a vehicle may up to four times increase the likelihood of an injury collision.

Most accidents involving young drivers happen quickly.

The bulk of traffic fatalities for the 17–25 age group category, according to BITRE statistics from 2021, happen at speeds of 100 km/h.

Regretfully, learner drivers in Australia are not taught defensive or emergency driving techniques including braking, swerving, or emergency lane changes, and the bulk of driving teaching and testing takes place at city speeds.

Furthermore, several states have speed restrictions for novice drivers that are set at 90 km/h or below.

This implies that young drivers have had little to no experience to high-speed driving and the related dangers by the time they are old enough to drive on their own.