Nederlands

• 
  • News
  • Conferences
  • Press
  • Recent publications
• 
  • Fact sheets
  • Knowledge base
  • International
  • Data
  • Library
  • Publications
  • Links
• 
  • Research and tasks
  • Long-term programme
  • Organization
  • Annual Report
  • Vacancies
  • Contact
  • Useful
• 

Young novice drivers

18-24 year old novice drivers have a more than four times higher crash rate than experienced motorists. The crash rate for young men is even six times higher.

In the Netherlands, drivers are trained via a theory exam, followed by a practical training, closed off by a practical driving exam. Since 2002, the driver gets a beginner's driving licence which is linked to a simple demerit points system, when the test is passed. This beginner's licence is valid for five years. The effect of this measure has not yet been proved or studied. At this moment a graduated driving licence seems the most promising to reduce the high crash rate of young motorists.

 

For more details see:
Fact sheet Young novice drivers (pdf)
Fact sheet The graduated driving licence (pdf)

Safety

Only 8% of all driving licence holders, but involved in 20% of all crashes

In the Netherlands, there are about 200 road deaths and 700 severe injuries among drivers in the age group of 18-24 years old each year. A young driver is involved in more than 20% of the serious car crashes, whereas this group only possesses 8% of the driving licences. 18-24 year old novice drivers have a more than four times higher crash rate than experienced motorists. For young males the crash rate is six times higher. Young male drivers are disproportionally involved in single vehicle crashes. About half the fatal crashes in which a young male driver is involved are single vehicle crashes. For 30-59 year old male motorists this number is about a quarter.

Possible causes

Partly age and partly lack of experience

The high crash rate of young novice motorists is both due to lack of experience, and to their age. Lack of experience for instance leads to a poor estimation of the dangers and complexities of traffic situations. What is more, routine and automatisms for reacting to traffic situations are still lacking. Among other things, the age is responsible for young motorists overestimating their own skills and accepting high risks. They also want to try out new things and impress their friends. In addition, 18-24 year olds relatively often drive under dangerous circumstances, such as in weekend nights and after having used alcohol and drugs.

Measures

Current driver training and beginner's licence not sufficient; important gain possible with a 'graduated driving licence'

To obtain a driving licence in the Netherlands, a theory exam must be passed first. That can be done from 17 years old. Next, the practical driver training can start from 18 years old. This training is given by a qualified driving instructor and is followed by a practical driving exam, supervised by an examiner of CBR, The Dutch Driving Test Organisation. The high crash rates of young, inexperienced drivers show that such a training course is, in fact, insufficient. There have recently been experiments with what is called a 'Driver Training in Steps'. Both instructors and learner drivers are satisfied and the success percentage is higher. The question as to whether or not it will produce safer motorists has not yet been answered.

 

In early 2002, the beginner's driving licence was introduced. It is linked to a demerit points system. If three serious offences are committed in the first five years, the beginner's licence is withdrawn. If this is not the case, the motorist gets a 'normal' licence after five years. Research abroad leads us to expect no or hardly any effect of this measure. For more details see: Fact sheet Demerit points systems (pdf).

 

An important improvement can be made with the 'graduated driving licence'. The experiences with this are good in for instance the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. For more details see: Fact sheet The graduated driving licence (pdf).

References

(SWOV reports in Dutch have an English summary)

Christ, R. (2004). Das universelle Kursmodell?; Ergebnisse österreichischer Evaluationsstudien zu unterschiedlichen Kursmodellen. In: Berichte 7. Internationaler Kongress "Driver Improvement", Salzburg, Austria, 8.-10. Oktober 2001.

 

Traffic Test (2001). Rijopleiding In Stappen (RIS); Evaluatie van een proef in de provincie Gelderland. TT 01-62. Traffic Test, Veenendaal.

 

Vissers, J.A.M.M. & Bos, E.K. (1999). Modulaire B-rijopleiding; Resultaten van een kleinschalige proef in de provincie Gelderland. TT 99-90. Traffic Test, Veenendaal.

 

Vlakveld, W.P. (2004). The road safety effect of demerit point systems; a literature study. R-2004-2. SWOV, Leidschendam. (In Dutch)

 

Vlakveld, W.P. (2005). Young, novice motorists, their crash rates, and measures to reduce them; A literature study. R-2005-3. SWOV, Leidschendam. (In Dutch)