All 17 to 24 year olds to be banned from driving at night

[Apple]

Banning newly qualified young drivers from night-time motoring, drinking any alcohol or carrying passengers of a similar age could save 200 lives a year and lead to 1,700 fewer injuries, according to researchers.

A Cardiff University study says NHS costs in treating people involved in road accidents could be significantly cut if a system of graduated driver licensing (GDL) was introduced for 17- to 24-year-olds and operated for up to two years after they passed their driving tests.

Similar schemes already exist in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and parts of the US. One in five new drivers in the UK crash within six months of passing their test and young drivers are 10 times more likely to be involved in accidents.

Sarah Jones, a public health consultant who led the research, said: "GDL works in other countries and there is no good reason why it wouldn't work here." She told the Radio 4's Today programme that such schemes allowed younger drivers to gain experience in safer driving conditions.

But Edmund King, president of the AA, said there were already tough measures in place to protect young drivers.

He said that in other countries motorists were able to drive from a younger age than in Britain, where there was also a tougher test.

King added that young motorists already face a ban when they reached six penalty points on their licence compared with 12 points for older drivers. He said his organisation favoured more training on driving and road safety for young people in school or college to "get safer drivers before they take to the road rather than introduce restrictions afterwards".

Critics say police would find it difficult to enforce graduated licences, although more insurance companies could offer schemes that meant cheaper premiums for those young drivers who, for instance, did not drive late at night. These were monitored by black boxes in their cars.

Here is the link to the article by The Guardian:

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/21/night-time-ban-young-drivers-study

What do you think about this? If it has been done in other countries and they are saying the results are great, I wouldn't be surprised if our Government took notice...

[xxMATTGxx]

So what happens if a person aged 17 to 24 who can drive needs to go somewhere at the night for an emergency? I think it's bit stupid to have this in place to be honest.

[Nixt]

I can't see it happening myself, and if it did it certainly wouldn't be up to 24. It would be incorporated into the current system, so however old you are, you are restricted for the first two years of your driving. However I think it's an awful idea but I may well just be saying that as a driver myself. It would make things incredibly awkward for me in situations where I was working late or similar.

[Special]

i guess this seems a good idea.. but easy for me to say as i'm not a driver

it also depends on what time 'night is' - is it as soon as the sun goes down or from 11pm-5am for example?

[Mathew]

Absolutely stupid. Obviously they would have to allow driving at night if it was an emergency; and then they have to differentiate what is an emergency and what isn't.

Just even more proof that we are turning into a horrible, nanny state instead of the free country we all think we're in.

[Recursion]

No where did the article say it was "to be" :S

[Deak]

So as people have been sayin what if it is an emergency? what if they work night shifts?

If this happens then its stupid in my opinion!

[Moh]

The reason I'v paid around £1,000 on driving lessons is so that I can drive when I can't exactly get the bus! If younger drivers can't drive during the night, then surely they will do more driving during the day, if not faster so they can get home before 'curfew'.

It frustrates me how the idiots who do cause the accidents have to spoil it for the rest.

[Apple]

No where did the article say it was "to be" :S

It didn't, just my crafty (while possibly a little misleading) way of getting people to look at the thread. :P

Suppose you could extend the title and say "All 17 to 24 year olds to be banned from driving at night if the Government approves". ;)

[Jordy]

It'd certainly bring down insurance costs and potentially save lives, might not to be too much of a bad thing. Saying that you can actually buy cheaper insurance where you're not allowed to drive past 11PM (They put GPS trackers in your car to make sure!).

[dbgtz]

tbh i would break this law when i could drive, sorry but they constantly seem to be bias towards age without knowing anyone really.

[Jordy]

tbh i would break this law when i could drive, sorry but they constantly seem to be bias towards age without knowing anyone really.The statistics are horrific for accidents caused in the 17-24 year old age group, they speak for themselves.

[Nixt]

The statistics are horrific for accidents caused in the 17-24 year old age group, they speak for themselves.

Do you have any statistics on whether they occur during the day or night time though? I would assume that accidents involving other road users or pedestrians are more common in the day, as this is when the roads are busier. I would imagine the fatalities and accidents in the evening involve the driver themselves more than anyone else, and it's purely their own fault if they drive around like an idiot and kill themselves, in my opinion.

[Minstrels]

So lemme get this right, football at West Brom tomorrow night. Drive down, game finishes at 21:45, possibly later. Get out around 22:00, possibly later. Cant' drive back. Sweet.

Won't happen.

[Jordy]

Do you have any statistics on whether they occur during the day or night time though? I would assume that accidents involving other road users or pedestrians are more common in the day, as this is when the roads are busier. I would imagine the fatalities and accidents in the evening involve the driver themselves more than anyone else, and it's purely their own fault if they drive around like an idiot and kill themselves, in my opinion.40% of Collisions happen in the hours of darkness.

While researching a little bit I came across this; "People over the age of 60 years form about 20 percent of the population, yet they make up over a quarter of traffic fatalities" - Any ideas if they have to pay massive insurance premiums too? Perhaps if young people are targeted, old people should be too by being retested or something.

[Jordan]

I heard this, very stupid idea.

[Sharon]

This is crap. Theres perfect reasons why this could be stupid.

- Driving to the shop... biggie.
- Coming home from work late
- Going out justl ike for tea and stuff

What a pathetic idea.

[RandomManJay]

There a too many factors in this issue with no easy solution. It seems like they've put age before experience here as young people tend to have less experience and are less mature and what not. But they have also ignored that the elderly have less responses etc. and have a higher risk of causing an accident because of this, despite how many years of experience they may have under their belt. Every age range has its own issues and problems. It’s ignorant to think that suppressing one age group can improve such an issue so dramatically.

I personally think that if this comes into effect, it will cause more problems than solve them. Other countries have different driving standards and different examinations and training. They can't simply say that this one thing they've done is dropping statistics, as it has been said in the article.

If they really want to improve driving and reduce accidents and fatalities, they should look at everything, from the Highway Code to the training and examination procedures, as opposed to purely taking an interest in how young people are.

[Tintinnabulate]

Not going to happen but its a great idea. The number of young drivers I have seen on the motorway and in general at night driving like such morons is amazing.


tbh i would break this law when i could drive, sorry but they constantly seem to be bias towards age without knowing anyone really.

Bias for a good reason too...

[Pyroka]

So what happens if a person aged 17 to 24 who can drive needs to go somewhere at the night for an emergency? I think it's bit stupid to have this in place to be honest.

Well that's an exception isn't it, I can't see them getting done if it was an absolute emergency. If they ran more nightbuses more frequently I think this'd be a good idea, but they dont, so it wouldnt be a good idea.

Sure the results would probably be great and everything but for the way the economic climate is right now, it's just not the right time to implement more stuff like this. They want to cut the police force as it is...

[Apple]

Not going to happen but its a great idea. The number of young drivers I have seen on the motorway and in general at night driving like such morons is amazing.

This will be because of all the boy racers who think they can drive but actually can't. They make young drivers insurance sky high and at least if it was to be put into place (which I don't want) we would see our insurance go down massively. However there are insurance companies out there that offer time-restricted driving deals so we all have access to cheaper insurance anyway as long as we don't mind not being able to drive at night.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Another stupid proposal which only penalises the law-abiding for the sins of the small minority. Instead of worring about total non-issues such as this, why don't our police and legislature get their act together and go after the real criminal threats and dangers who are allowed to walk the streets because a) we do not have enough prison places and b) our politicians seem to think a slap of the wrist works when it quite clearly does not. I'm sick of government no longer telling you what you cannot do, but what you can do.

How on earth would this be enforced anyway? it beggars belief.

[Hecktix]

It won't happen. Rumours like this always rise about driving, making the limit 18/21 etc - it'll never happen because there'd be so much uproar - no Politician would ever pass this law, politics is a popularity contest remember!

[Geraint]

How do you define nightime anyway. In the winter it gets dark before 5 and these conditions are the same as that of midnight but with more cars on the road. They can't stop people working.

[Meanies]

what a stupid idea. wont happen

[Nalfar]

Stupid idea.

They should power-restrict cars like they do motorbikes. Simple.

[Yupt]

your all worried about 'emergencys' and 'night shifts', but lets be honest, the main thing it would ruin is nights out.

[Apple]

Your "nights out" must be pretty crap if you are sober enough to drive home... That's what taxi's are for. :P

[Yupt]

Edit; to save arguement.

I meant as a wide view, those getting lifts home with friends etc.
I tend not to waste money on a taxi tbh, i'd just get a 6th former to give me a lift from wherever i am.

[danzooo]

This is ********. You shell out a fortune on lessons/your test, have to drive like an angel for the first 2 years because you can only get 6 points, are robbed blind by insurance companies who want over £1,000 a year for insurance on a car that couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding and now this?

Driving means freedom and independence? Does it ****e. Just because they do something similar in the US doesn't mean they have to do it here.

[Camy]

I think this is a horrible idea. As per usual everyone gets painted with the same 'all young people are terrible' brush.

[Bun]

so just because some 45 year old female passes her test she's allowed to drive at night but i wouldn't be? it's got potential but needs reforming.

[karter]

I am sure they will cooperate in case of emergencies?

[ihatehash]

lies lies lies, In New Zealand we do not have similar laws, the only law we have thats even a little similar is that you cannot carry unlicensed passengers on your restricted licence (it goes learners, restricted then full)

[Dean]

Pathetic to be honest, like everyone else has basically said.

[[Jay]]

I doubt they will put this into action, its a shame the only focus on young drivers, yes while there is a lot of accidents caused by young drivers that's not really down to them being young but more down to them being new drivers. You do not get as many older new drives and therefore cannot compare the statics that much.

I also feel that doing this would affect the majority due to the minority, not every young driver is a bad driver.

[Wig44.]

It didn't, just my crafty (while possibly a little misleading) way of getting people to look at the thread. :P

Suppose you could extend the title and say "All 17 to 24 year olds to be banned from driving at night if the Government approves". ;)

Actually it should be: Research shows that inexperienced drivers in the 17-24 year old age group being banned from driving at night saves lives.

There is nothing in that article about it going to government, nor will ALL 17-24 year olds be banned, nor is it being discussed by government.