Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
1
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Acknowledged
Research conducted by the insurance industry shows that a significant proportion of older novice drivers—that is, drivers aged above 25 who are relatively new to driving—are involved in crashes. However, this is difficult to verify because official statistics are not recorded for this particular demographic. This absence of data is …
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Research conducted by the insurance industry shows that a significant proportion of older novice drivers—that is, drivers aged above 25 who are relatively new to driving—are involved in crashes. However, this is difficult to verify because official statistics are not recorded for this particular demographic. This absence of data is particularly disappointing given that our predecessor Committee recommended in 2007 that the Department, in collaboration with the police, “should collect the data necessary to understand the scale and nature of the crash involvement of novice drivers, independently of young drivers”.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the difficulty in identifying novice drivers from existing data and that bespoke research would be resource-intensive. They state they already know age and inexperience contribute to collision risk for young drivers, and evidence suggests older novice drivers are less risky, but will …
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Department for Transport
2
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Deferred
The Department should commission a study of crash rates for older novice drivers and how the driver’s experience level contributes to these crashes. This would allow the Department to understand better the risks around older novice drivers and whether to monitor and target more actively crash rates amongst this demographic. …
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The Department should commission a study of crash rates for older novice drivers and how the driver’s experience level contributes to these crashes. This would allow the Department to understand better the risks around older novice drivers and whether to monitor and target more actively crash rates amongst this demographic. (paragraph 33) Reforms to the learning and testing process
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Government response AI summary
The government states that bespoke research would be resource-intensive and they already have evidence about young novice drivers, suggesting older novices are less risky. They will consider the case for such research further and weigh it against other priorities, without committing to commission the study.
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Department for Transport
3
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Deferred
Every individual’s circumstances and natural skill, aptitude and experience and level of competence to drive a car or vehicle is varied. However, we are concerned that intensive driving courses may not provide learner drivers with adequate driving experience prior to passing their test. We recommend that the Department conducts research …
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Every individual’s circumstances and natural skill, aptitude and experience and level of competence to drive a car or vehicle is varied. However, we are concerned that intensive driving courses may not provide learner drivers with adequate driving experience prior to passing their test. We recommend that the Department conducts research to investigate whether drivers who pass their test after undertaking intensive driving lessons are at increased risk of being involved in a crash in their first two years of driving. (Paragraph 42) Conclusion
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees that further study on intensive driving lessons and post-test crash risk would be useful but defers committing to the research, stating it will be considered as part of the 2022/23 research programme as current year projects are already agreed.
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Department for Transport
4
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Acknowledged
There have been welcome reductions in the overall numbers of young and novice drivers killed and seriously injured in road traffic crashes over the past 15 years. However, this progress has now stalled. We believe that improvements to the safety of vehicles and the learning and testing process, as well …
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There have been welcome reductions in the overall numbers of young and novice drivers killed and seriously injured in road traffic crashes over the past 15 years. However, this progress has now stalled. We believe that improvements to the safety of vehicles and the learning and testing process, as well as the increasing use of telematic technology by young drivers, have helped improve safety rates. However, young drivers are still sadly over-represented in the statistics. It is a tragic fact that in 2019 88 young drivers lost their lives on the roads of Great Britain.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's observations by referencing the Driver 2020 project, for which a progress update can be provided by July 2021, with initial findings on novice driver interventions expected in Spring 2022. They also note a feasibility study on combining telematics data has …
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Department for Transport
5
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Acknowledged
There are a number of factors that contribute to the higher proportional rates of young drivers in the casualty statistics. We welcome the Department for Transport’s Driver 2020 research project which is exploring several technological and educational based measures targeted at improving the safety rates for young drivers.
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There are a number of factors that contribute to the higher proportional rates of young drivers in the casualty statistics. We welcome the Department for Transport’s Driver 2020 research project which is exploring several technological and educational based measures targeted at improving the safety rates for young drivers.
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Government response AI summary
The government provides an update on the Driver 2020 project timeline, stating that initial findings will be available in Spring 2022 and final findings in early 2023, while noting a related telematics feasibility study has not progressed.
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Department for Transport
6
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Accepted
We recommend that the Department for Transport provides an update to the Committee on progress with the Driver 2020 project by July 2021. (Paragraph 81) Road safety: young and novice drivers 33
Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, confirming it will provide an update on the Driver 2020 project by July 2021, with initial findings in Spring 2022 and final findings in Spring 2023 due to COVID-19 delays.
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Department for Transport
7
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Acknowledged
As with other age groups, rural roads pose a particular risk for young drivers, with three quarters of young driver fatalities taking place on those roads. We welcome the Department’s 2019 commitment to establish a Rural Roads Working Group although it is unsatisfactory that, by October 2020, that group had …
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As with other age groups, rural roads pose a particular risk for young drivers, with three quarters of young driver fatalities taking place on those roads. We welcome the Department’s 2019 commitment to establish a Rural Roads Working Group although it is unsatisfactory that, by October 2020, that group had still not met.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the Rural Roads Working Group was placed on hold in November 2020 and officially paused due to Departmental resourcing being prioritised for COVID and Brexit/Winter Response work.
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Department for Transport
8
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Accepted in Part
In its Response to this Report, the Department should provide further information about the Rural Roads Working Group, including its membership, scope, objectives, and when and how often it plans to meet.
Government response AI summary
The government confirms the Rural Roads Working Group was paused due to COVID/Brexit but will restart in Summer 2021. They provide information on its intended membership (stakeholders), scope, and objectives (discussing challenges and improving rural road safety), but note the group is still in plenary …
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Department for Transport
9
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Acknowledged
We recognise the improvements that the Department and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have made to the learning and testing process in recent years. However, we are concerned that the current learning process does not fully equip learner drivers with sufficient experience of driving a vehicle in a range of …
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We recognise the improvements that the Department and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have made to the learning and testing process in recent years. However, we are concerned that the current learning process does not fully equip learner drivers with sufficient experience of driving a vehicle in a range of different situations. We therefore welcome the Department’s commitment to pilot a system of “modular learning” with compulsory driver training in different conditions, due to start later in 2021 should restrictions in place for the coronavirus pandemic be eased.
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Government response AI summary
The government provides details of the Modular Learning project, including its objectives to improve risk perceptions and equip pupils to manage risks. They confirm that due to COVID-19, the trial's start is delayed until late Spring 2021, with an assessment of its effectiveness now anticipated …
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Department for Transport
10
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Accepted in Part
In its response to this Report, the Department should provide an outline of the criteria that will be used to judge the effectiveness of its modular learning pilot. The Department should update us by October 2021 on its assessment of the pilot against those criteria.
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In its response to this Report, the Department should provide an outline of the criteria that will be used to judge the effectiveness of its modular learning pilot. The Department should update us by October 2021 on its assessment of the pilot against those criteria.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines specific objectives and criteria for the modular learning pilot, detailing how it will assess improved road safety and risk management. However, due to COVID-19 delays, the pilot's start and completion are pushed back, meaning the update on assessment requested by October 2021 …
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Department for Transport
11
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Accepted
As well as the practical test, the theory test can play an important role in helping to develop learner drivers’ understanding of driving in different situations. We recommend that the Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency develop the theory test to ensure it includes adequate questioning on driving …
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As well as the practical test, the theory test can play an important role in helping to develop learner drivers’ understanding of driving in different situations. We recommend that the Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency develop the theory test to ensure it includes adequate questioning on driving at night and while carrying passengers.
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Government response AI summary
The government asserts that the current theory test and official education materials already include adequate questioning and information on driving at night and with passengers. They also state the theory test content is kept under review, with new content under development to be introduced after …
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Department for Transport
12
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Rejected
Given there is some evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of GDL but significant concerns about its impact, particularly from young people themselves, the Department should resume the study into the social and economic consequences of GDL which it committed to in its 2019 Road Safety Statement. This would provide much needed …
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Given there is some evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of GDL but significant concerns about its impact, particularly from young people themselves, the Department should resume the study into the social and economic consequences of GDL which it committed to in its 2019 Road Safety Statement. This would provide much needed evidence on the likely impacts.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation to resume studying Graduated Driver Licensing, stating it will not commission any research into its social and economic consequences and has no plans to conduct research or implement GDL at this time.
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Department for Transport
13
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Deferred
The potential implementation of GDL in Northern Ireland presents the Department with an opportunity to monitor the impact of such a system within one part of the UK. By October 2021, we recommend that the Department liaise with the Northern Ireland Executive and provide us with interim findings and the …
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The potential implementation of GDL in Northern Ireland presents the Department with an opportunity to monitor the impact of such a system within one part of the UK. By October 2021, we recommend that the Department liaise with the Northern Ireland Executive and provide us with interim findings and the Department’s conclusions on the impact of GDL in Northern Ireland.
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Government response AI summary
The government states the Graduated Pilot Scheme in Northern Ireland has been significantly delayed by COVID-19 and has not yet started, making it too early to provide interim findings or conclusions by October 2021. They commit to remaining in close contact with the Northern Ireland …
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Department for Transport
14
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Acknowledged
We welcome the fact that the Department’s Driver 2020 programme will explore the potential for telematic technology to improve driver safety. We are mindful, however, about the rights and freedoms of the individual and the privacy of their data.
Government response AI summary
The government reiterates its welcome for the Driver 2020 programme and its aim to explore telematic technology for road safety, noting that final findings are expected in early 2023.
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Department for Transport
15
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
Deferred
As part of the progress update on Driver 2020 we have requested by July 2021, the Department should outline the progress and preliminary findings from its research into the effectiveness of telematic technology to improve road safety. (Paragraph 91) 34 Road safety: young and novice drivers
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As part of the progress update on Driver 2020 we have requested by July 2021, the Department should outline the progress and preliminary findings from its research into the effectiveness of telematic technology to improve road safety. (Paragraph 91) 34 Road safety: young and novice drivers
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to providing a progress update on the Driver 2020 project by July 2021, but states preliminary findings on telematics effectiveness will not be available until Spring 2022. They also note a separate telematics feasibility study has not progressed due to procurement challenges.
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Department for Transport