Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
1
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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 …
Government response. Evidence from around the world suggests that the increased risks faced by young novice drivers are caused by a combination of young age and inexperience.1 1 Alfonsi, R., Anmari, A., & Usami, D. S. (2018). Lack of driving experience. European …
Department for Transport
2
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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. …
Government response. Evidence from around the world suggests that the increased risks faced by young novice drivers are caused by a combination of young age and inexperience.1 1 Alfonsi, R., Anmari, A., & Usami, D. S. (2018). Lack of driving experience. European …
Department for Transport
3
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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 …
Government response. We agree with the Committee’s recommendation that further study on whether intensive driving lessons are associated with a greater risk of a collision post-test (compared to regular lessons) may be useful. While we recognise that people learn to drive for …
Department for Transport
4
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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 …
Government response. As mentioned in our answer to Recommendation 3, we can update the Committee on progress with the Driver 2020 project in July 2021, however we won’t have findings by this date. Initial findings on the impacts of the novice driver …
Department for Transport
5
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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.
Government response. As mentioned in our answer to Recommendation 3, we can update the Committee on progress with the Driver 2020 project in July 2021, however we won’t have findings by this date. Initial findings on the impacts of the novice driver …
Department for Transport
6
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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. We can update the Transport Select Committee on the progress of the Driver 2020 project in July 2021, however we are able to state now that we will not have any findings by this date. The project was due to …
Department for Transport
7
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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 …
Government response. The Rural Roads Working Group was placed on hold in November 2020 as Department resourcing prioritised COVID and Brexit/Winter Response work. To this end, all work on the Working Group has been officially paused.
Department for Transport
8
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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. The Rural Roads Working Group was placed on hold in November 2020 as Department resourcing prioritised COVID and Brexit/Winter Response work. To this end, all work on the Working Group has been officially paused. The Working Group is still in …
Department for Transport
9
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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 …
Government response. The Driving Instructors Association are being grant funded to deliver the Modular Learning project (with the support of an independent advisory group) for the Department. The project will explore if a consistently delivered, nationally adopted modular ‘learning to drive’ syllabus …
Department for Transport
10
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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.
Government response. The Driving Instructors Association are being grant funded to deliver the Modular Learning project (with the support of an independent advisory group) for the Department. The project will explore if a consistently delivered, nationally adopted modular ‘learning to drive’ syllabus …
Department for Transport
11
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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 …
Government response. We agree with the Committee about the importance of ensuring drivers are equipped to drive at a range of times and in different conditions. The theory test question bank includes questions about night time driving and carrying passengers as well …
Department for Transport
12
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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 …
Government response. Whilst the Department for Transport acknowledges the Select Committee’s recommendation on continuing research into Graduated Driver Licensing, the Department will not be commissioning any research into the social and economic consequences of GDL. Evidence has been submitted on Graduated Driver …
Department for Transport
13
Recommendation
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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 …
Government response. The Department for Transport is regularly in touch with its counterparts at the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The Graduated Pilot Scheme due to be trailed in Northern Ireland remains a priority for their Minister, however COVID has greatly …
Department for Transport
14
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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. We welcome the fact that the Department’s Driver 2020 programme will explore the potential for telematic technology to improve road safety. Driver 2020 will provide unique evidence to understand the relationship between use of telematics and post-test collision risk and …
Department for Transport
15
Conclusion
Fourth report: Road safety: young and n…
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
Government response. As mentioned in our answer to Recommendation 3, we can update the Committee on progress with the Driver 2020 project in July 2021, however we won’t have findings by this date. Initial findings on the impacts of the novice driver …
Department for Transport