RoadSafe the road charity issued a statement that said choosing an older car for new young drivers is not a great idea as younger motorists need to the safety of modern cars. Director for the charity, Adrian Walsh stated that when it comes to purchasing a car for a new driver it is tempting to want to put them in a cheap older banger due to the insurance costs, but if they get into a crash the safety systems are not present to keep them safe.
Age should not be a factor I which vehicle motorists should drive in terms of safety but at the moment RoadSafe is focused on helping to raise awareness of the importance of modern cars with younger drivers as they have the highest incidence rate.
In 2009, drivers aged 17 – 24 years made up 12% of licence holders but 26% of crashes involved at least one driver in this age group3. They were also over represented in the number of road deaths, making up 25% of the 564 fatalities3.
Newer cars don’t just have better crash protection. They also have systems that help avoid collisions. ESC, for example, helps a driver maintain control in an emergency. The system uses sensors to detect when a car starts to skid off its planned course and automatically reduces the throttle and applies the brakes to individual wheels to regain stability and prevent or minimise the skid.
This isn’t to say that older cars are dangerous. Many second hand cars have good safety systems. Buyers should check a car’s Euro NCAP rating and ask about the safety features fitted before making a purchase. Visit roadsafeforparents.com for tips on choosing a safe car – brand new or second hand.
The RoadSafe for Parents campaign began in February, with the support of celebrities including Phillip Schofield and Fearne Cotton. It aims to show parents and guardians how they can improve the safety of young drivers.
