Protect Young Drivers and Confused.com announce partnership to improve safety for new drivers
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
The partnership will bring together expertise in road safety and insurance to provide better education and awareness for young drivers and their parents
We are delighted to announce that Protect Young Drivers has teamed up with comparison site Confused.com to strengthen understanding of the risks facing newly qualified drivers and support measures to better protect them on the road.
The partnership will bring together many years of expertise from across the road safety and insurance industries to deliver data-driven education for drivers and those who influence road safety policy. It will also support informed discussion about how policy and licensing approaches can better protect young drivers.
According to statistics, around 1 in 5 people killed or seriously injured in collisions involving cars were in crashes involving a young driver.(1) And young male car drivers aged 17 to 24 are 4 times as likely to be killed or seriously injured compared with all car drivers aged 25 or over. These statistics present a significant challenge for younger drivers as they navigate their new freedom on the roads while also battling high insurance costs.
Car insurance is primarily based on the level of risk a driver presents. And given the statistical probability of a younger driver being involved in a collision and making a claim, they’re expecting to pay as much as £2,082(2), on average, for their insurance once they pass their test.
Confused.com car insurance was the first price comparison of its kind, and continues to help millions of drivers save money. But with car insurance prices now as much as 44% more expensive than 10 years ago(2), there is pressure on the industry to make pricing cheaper and fairer for motorists.
Improving safety for young drivers will not only save lives but may also help reduce insurance costs over time.
Protect Young Drivers is a dedicated website and central hub for evidence, insight and action to reduce serious road harm among young drivers. It brings together research, data and real-life experiences in one accessible place.
Hosted by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), the initiative is supported by leading voices across road safety - including police, fire and rescue services, Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities, academics and bereaved families.
Now a national movement, Protect Young Drivers represents organisations and individuals standing together, united in their commitment to work collectively for safer roads. Confused.com shares this vision for safer roads, for young drivers, and all drivers alike. The brand is passionate about using data-led insights to encourage safer driving habits and tackle key risk areas, especially among young drivers. And through this collaboration, it will educate novice drivers and their parents on how certain behaviours, or a lack of confidence or skills, can impact their risk of a collision.
Images: Co-Pilot Vision Zero Toolbox
By sharing insights on road safety statistics, driver behaviour data and industry trends, Confused.com and Protect Young Drivers can create a clearer picture of the challenges and how these can be addressed - from data-led industry reports through to useful tools and resources to support young drivers and their families.
The partnership will also explore how young drivers can be better protected through safer licensing approaches. This includes consideration of measures such as a minimum learning period, limits on night-time driving and restrictions on carrying teenage passengers in the early months of driving - often referred to as Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL).
International evidence shows that GDL systems reduce crashes while allowing young drivers to gain experience gradually. Any UK approach would need to be designed to support both safety and young drivers’ independence.
Already adopted in countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Graduated Driving Licences allow young drivers to build their experience confidently, which is most crucial in the first 6 to 12 months of driving.
Studies have shown that young drivers are more likely to misjudge situations, overestimate their abilities and struggle with hazard perception - spotting and responding to dangers on the road. Graduated Driving Licences would tackle this challenge by allowing drivers to gain experience in safer conditions, before progressing to full driving privileges.
The UK Government has previously rejected proposals for a full GDL system and is currently consulting on a minimum learning period.
Developments in Northern Ireland may contribute to ongoing policy consideration across the UK, for which Confused.com and Protect Young Drivers are keen to support with research and data to shape a solution that supports a safer system, while allowing young drivers the freedom and flexibility that comes with owning a car.
Rebecca Morris, Engagement Director, Protect Young Drivers, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Confused.com to strengthen understanding of the risks young drivers face in their first months on the road. Young drivers experience a unique combination of inexperience and exposure to higher-risk situations, and Protect Young Drivers exists to bring together evidence, insight and real-life experience so that families, professionals and policymakers can better understand those risks and how to reduce them.
“This partnership allows us to combine robust road safety research with industry data, helping to build a clearer picture of the challenges young drivers face. By improving understanding and supporting informed discussion, we can play a part in creating safer conditions for young people as they gain independence and experience behind the wheel.”
Steve Dukes, CEO at Confused.com comments: When it comes to insurance, the question we get asked a lot is ‘why are young drivers paying so much for their insurance’. It’s a real pain point for them, as they are desperate for their freedom, but have to foot hefty insurance costs to get there. And the truth is that young drivers are statistically at a higher risk of an incident, compared to other age groups.
“The insurance industry is under pressure to do better and help bring costs down, especially for younger drivers. But the answer fundamentally lies in improving road safety, and reducing risk. This is a priority when it comes to helping young drivers feel safe and confident on the road.
“We share Protect Young Drivers’ vision of making roads safer for motorists. Better education of risks, safer driving habits and perhaps more enforcement will not only improve road safety, but can make driving more affordable too.
“We’re looking forward to working together to push for change and save lives. Young drivers look to us to help them save money on their insurance - but together, the support we can offer them goes beyond just saving them money, and can help them to become safer on the roads too.”
