A Graduated Licence Scheme could help young motorists

A ‘graduated licence’ scheme which imposes restrictions for young motorists could cut their insurance costs by 10 percent.

The restrictions being considered would prohibit newly qualified teenagers aged 17 to 19 from driving at night and carrying young passengers, according to online motor insurer swiftcover.com. They would be operative for two years and could also include a total ban on alcohol.

The research by Cardiff University suggests that these special licences for young drivers could save 200 lives a year and lead to 1,700 fewer serious injuries on British roads. Another benefit of more affordable insurance is that it will also help cut the number of uninsured drivers on the road.

Currently young and newly qualified drivers pay higher motor insurance premiums because they are the riskiest drivers on the road. swiftcover.com claims statistics show that men up to the age of 21 account for 62% of the total value of claims in that age group, whilst research shows that young men under the age of 21 are ten times more likely to die on the road than other motorists and account for a third of dangerous driving convictions.

Craig Staniland, underwriting director for swiftcover.com, said: “Introducing a scheme that would limit the time young and newly qualified drivers spend on the road, particular during potentially dangerous periods such as at night, would enable teenaged drivers to get valuable road experience under safer conditions and help instil a great sense of responsibility and safety. If this also cuts the number of road accidents involving young people, not only would it save lives it would also bring down the cost of insurance premiums for younger drivers.”

Graduated licences have already been successfully introduced in Australia, New Zealand and parts of the US.