We’re good and fast – but want to get better, say young drivers

Nearly all young motorists reckon they are good drivers - yet more than three in five say they go fast when behind the wheel, according to a recent survey by Max Power magazine (PA News). And nearly two in five 17-24 year olds went as far as to describe their driving as ‘risky’ or ‘exhilarating’, while 11 per cent admitted their driving was ‘dangerous’ or ‘erratic’.

In the survey of young drivers:
86 per cent rated themselves as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ drivers
73 per cent considered their driving to be ‘controlled’
64 per cent felt they were ‘confident’
54 per cent felt they were ‘safe’
28 per cent felt they were ‘considerate’
21 per cent thought themselves ‘patient’

But the survey also revealed:
62 per cent described their driving as ‘fast’
2 per cent described it as ‘slow’
38 per cent described their driving as ‘risky’ or ‘exhilarating’
11 per cent conceded that their driving was ‘dangerous’ or ‘erratic’
25 per cent described it as ‘aggressive’

Asked what might make them a better driver, only 14 per cent suggested reading the Highway Code.

More positively, there was widespread recognition of the potential benefits of further driver training, with 75 per cent believing they would be safer drivers, 74 per cent believing their car insurance would be cheaper, 73 per cent believing they would be more confident and 44 per cent believing they would be less likely to have an accident.

"The Max Power survey is very worrying," said Kevin Delaney, RAC Foundation's head of traffic and road safety. "Not only does it show that many young motorists seriously underestimate the risk to themselves and their passengers, it suggests that they are not influenced by campaigns to reduce their speed. The good news is that young drivers are keen to improve their driving and recognise the importance of more training."