| 10 Highest Young Driver Risk Areas by Residency | County | Index | 10 Lowest Young Driver Risk Areas by Residency | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Holland District | Lincolnshire | 205 | City of London | 12 |
| Fenland District | Cambridgeshire | 195 | Westminster London Borough | 29 |
| Staffordshire Moorlands District | Staffordshire | 195 | Camden London Borough | 32 |
| North Dorset District | Dorset | 185 | Islington London Borough | 43 |
| Wealden District | East Sussex | 182 | Kensington and Chelsea London Borough | 45 |
| Boston Borough | Lincolnshire | 180 | Edinburgh City | 49 |
| Woking Borough | Surrey | 177 | Oxford City | 50 |
| Maldon District | Essex | 176 | Norwich City | 51 |
| Surrey Heath Borough | Surrey | 173 | Dundee City | 52 |
| East Dorset District | Dorset | 171 | Newcastle City | 53 |
Young Drivers Urged To Take Care
by Tim Barnes-Clay, the man behind the wheel.
Date: 11 February 2012
Rural watchdog the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is urging young drivers in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Essex to take care on rural roads.
The warning comes following research which today (Friday 10 February) reveals how risk levels for young drivers vary according to where they live. Lincolnshire’s South Holland District and Cambridgeshire’s Fenland District are the top hazard spots, followed closely by Boston Borough and Essex’s Maldon District.
The key finding of the report by Road Safety Analysis (RSA), specialists in examining road casualty trends, shows that rural young drivers are 37percent more likely to be involved in an injury collision than their urban counterparts.
Young drivers throughout the UK are already more likely to be involved in a crash with 30 percent of all motorists involved in collisions aged between 16 and 29 years old, yet this age group only made up 18 percent of the population. This study calculates that young rural drivers are two-thirds more likely to be involved in an injury collision than their older neighbours.
Higher Average Annual Mileage
One of the biggest factors in the elevated risk profile is the much higher average annual mileages driven by rural drivers with 31 percent more miles driven per person than their urban counterparts.
CLA East regional director Nicola Currie said: “This increased exposure combined with young drivers’ relative inexperience compared to older motorists is a signal to rural local authorities and police forces that special attention needs paying to this subject.”
Stark Results
Road Safety Analysis director Dan Campsall said: “This is the first time that we have had a thorough examination of the risks to young drivers based on where they live, and the results are stark. Younger drivers from rural areas are far more likely to be involved in a crash where someone is injured, and we need to see a package of measures developed that can bring about a change. This may require investment in transport infrastructure, community bus schemes and further driver training to affect the inequality that these drivers are experiencing.”
The CLA’s Mrs Currie added: “With this sort of information, Local Authorities can develop a much better understanding of the risks experienced by their residents and road users, helping them to address the inequalities that many people are experiencing in countryside areas.”
Best and worst performing areas
