Young Drivers – A Guide to Defensive Driving

Young drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in a car accident than experienced drivers.

This fact is demonstrated by the quotes given to drivers of differing ages when it comes to car insurance.

Below is a guide to defensive driving for new drivers to reduce the risk of having an accident on the roads and avoiding higher young driver insurance in the future.

Avoid distractions

Things like mobile phones, loud music, CD and MP3 players can all cause distractions when you’re driving. Many young drivers are so used to this technology they can’t concentrate properly on the road.

Taking your eye off the road for even a split second can have devastating consequences as other road users may also be distracted by something or someone in their vehicle.

Expect the unexpected

Most drivers act as you’d expect on the roads most of the time, but you never can tell when someone will do something stupid. Your young drivers’ insurance premiums can go up as a result of having an accident because of not reacting to an unusual situation on the roads.

From people pulling out at junctions to performing a u-turn without any warning, being able to concentrate and expect the unexpected at all times is a good way to reduce your chances of being involved in an accident as a young driver.

Don’t rely on other drivers

A common cause of accidents amongst inexperienced and young drivers is relying on other road users. People often leave a signal on when they shouldn’t or flash their lights without checking if it’s safe for you to pull out at a junction first.

Insurance quotes for young drivers are high because of the way inexperience contributes to situations like these and subsequent accidents.

Drive to suit the road conditions

Young drivers can go through all their lessons and test without experiencing many common road conditions.

For example, driving on a narrow country road in the dark and wet can prove very challenging for young drivers but they may have no idea how to handle their vehicles correctly.

If you currently drive the same way no matter the road conditions, you should think carefully about your risk of having an accident and adjust your driving style to state of the roads you’re on.

Remember speed limits are upper limits

Speed is a major contributing factor in many road accidents involving new drivers Just because the speed limit on a road is say 70mph, doesn’t mean you should or have to drive at that exact speed.

Following on from the last point, speed is a major part of driving to suit the conditions. For example, would you drive at the same speed on a 70mph road on a clear dry day as you would on a day with torrential rain and surface water affecting your vision?

The way you drive can have a huge impact on your own safety as well as your young drivers’ car insurance premiums.

Paying attention to these defensive driving tips could save you money as well as saving your life.

The Co-operative Insurance provides thousands of insurance policies for new drivers in the UK every year.