Driving rises up risk table for teenagers

Driving is now seen as a bigger threat to teenagers than gun and knife crime, according to research from the AA Charitable Trust.

In the last ten years there has been a 50% increase in the number of people who think driving represents the greatest threat to teenage safety, rising from 11% to 17%.

This means it has risen above gun and knife crime in people’s perception of dangers to young people (which has dropped from 25% to 16%).

Drugs have remained at the top of the list (rising 31% to 39%), with drinking taking second place (dropped 25% to 19%).

Recently there have been well-publicised statistics about the prevalence of knife crime, particularly in London. However, globally, road accidents are the single biggest killer of teenagers. And the latest UK statistics show that 889 16-19-year-olds were killed or seriously injured in cars in 2016.

Edmund King, Director of the AA Charitable Trust, said: “Ten years is a long time in the life of roads and driving, but the issues around young drivers have remained prevalent throughout.

“Young drivers have been a particular focus for us and it is good that the message about the risks they face on the roads is finally starting to sink in.

“Young people are far more at risk in a car than they are from gun or knife crime. Being aware of the risks is the first step towards reducing the risk. Parents, carers and young people themselves can help manage the dangers teenagers face on the roads through education and driver training.

“Since the AA Charitable Trust was founded, we have seen many changes to our roads, such as smart motorways, increasing traffic volumes and worsening road conditions.

“We have tried to ensure that we have always supported the UK’s drivers through the changes of the last ten years with our courses and campaigns.”