They might only make up a small proportion of the motorists on Australian roads, but young drivers are over-represented in the nation’s road crash and fatality data – and sadly, those statistics are getting worse, not better.
In 2023, the highest proportion of recorded road deaths were people aged 40–64, but the 17–25 age group was not far behind – adding up to a worrying 22 per cent of total driver deaths in Australia that year.
According to Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) national data, road deaths in this age group are on the rise. For parents of university-age students, that can mean sleepless nights and stressful days waiting for young drivers to arrive home safely.
Compared to data from 2022, when the 17-25 age group made up 20 per cent of driver deaths, the 2023 road toll for young Australian drivers represents an increase. In 2019, young drivers represented 18 per cent of total driver deaths.
The figures become even more troubling when you realise that, historically, drivers under the age of 25 only make up around 14 per cent of all licence holders but account for roughly a quarter of all road deaths.
Road safety experts cite a lack of experience, peer pressure, and a propensity to drive over the speed limit creating a fatal combination.
Go on the defence to help young drivers stay alive
To help turn that tide that leaves too many families shattered by the news of a young life lost, or forever impacted by the effects of road trauma, defensive driver training courses for young drivers can help.
By placing less experienced young drivers in emergency scenarios that demand last-minute braking, high-speed collision avoidance and emergency lane changes, the drivers experience a greater awareness of what bad driving habits, including speed and distraction, can do.
When parents guide young people through their schooling, they understand the importance of ongoing education for life, but for many parents, simply getting a young driver through the milestone of receiving their licence is where the education officially stops – and the real risks begin.
Set a positive example
Even an older driver can be impacted by bad driving habits, and with too many Australian drivers still distracted by mobile phone use, and not adhering to road sign warnings, learning the skills of defensive driving and making a mindset shift to stay safer behind the wheel helps keep the wider community safer too.
Taking a defensive driving course together sends a powerful message that when it comes to staying safe on the road, improving driving skills never goes out of style – and by learning together and acknowledging your own flaws, you’re teaching your young driver an important reminder that there is always room for improvement behind the wheel.