Driver safety

Drivers who travel as a passenger in another car, feel less safe than if they were driving, a recent report reveals. Indicating that drivers consider themselves to have a higher skill level than their peers. Drivers consider their road risk to be low when in charge of a vehicle, yet almost one third are concerned that a close family member will be killed or seriously injured on the roads, either as a pedestrian or in a vehicle.

Roads that 'look dangerous', have the lowest accident rate, this points to experienced drivers considering themselves capable of good risk assessment, however, the statistics show, that experience can breed complacency, this leads to increased overall risk. We have known for some time that auto pilot driving when on familiar territory increases accident risk, and less fear of consequences, borne out of comfort, not out of fact results in serious or fatal injury close to home or work.

Younger drivers are now subject to better road safety education compared to twenty years ago, 80% of 18 year olds know someone who has been involved in a serious or fatal collision, but that doesn't necessarily indicate they are within the same age group. Inexperience is reflected in road risk assessment, and understanding of consequence, however under 25's, the considered greater risk, also consider themselves to be good drivers once they pass their test. In an independent survey, nobody rated their driving below six, or a scale of 1 - 10, with 1 being poor.

The conclusion of this research from different sources, and the full reports will appear on our instructor training website.

LA