Is there anything we can do to reduce the accidents involving young drivers?

I responded to yet another tragic young driver road traffic crash last night (see www.basics.org.uk). On reflection today I'm wondering how this can be made less likely to happen. Knowledge, skills and attitudes are all part of learning. The first two are currently tested, but how can the third be made better, as they are so variable depending on the situation? Some of these incidents are due to risky overtakes (which limiting the number of passengers might help). But most of what I get called out to are probably due to inexperience: manoeuvres that experienced drivers would realise were unwise. Black box technology should be widely available and give a clear discount in insurance costs (without the impact of making people race home before certain time like Cinderella). What are your thoughts?

Asked on 21 December 2013 by GS, Crewe

Answered by Honest John
It's a medical condition due to testosterone levels in young men between the ages of 15 and 25. That can't be removed without emasculating them. But I'm disturbed by all the high-tech junk now being fitted into cars to enable people to listen to personal music and socialise with each other while driving. All these touch screens and all that noise has to affect their level of attention on the road and their sense of what is going on around them. Stupid to ban the use of hand-held mobile phones, yet allow far more distracting touch screens in cars. And to allow levels of noise that prevent people in the car being aware of what is going on around them.
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