Recent reports shows that the pressure is growing on the government to impose new US-style restrictions on young drivers after a series of fatal crashes involving teenagers. This would mean that they would be banned from driving during night time. Is this another sign of the ‘Nanny State’, or is it the only way of stopping you people from dangerous driving?

The Commission for Global Road Safety writes that worldwide, the number of people killed in road traffic crashes each year is estimated to be almost 1.2 million. That’s 3000 people killed on the world’s roads every day. Over 50% of road deaths are among young adults in the age range of 15-44 years.

Andrew Howard, the head of road safety at the AA, supported a recent call by a House of Commons transport committee for a ban on new teenage licence-holders driving with young passengers after nightfall. He stressed that, along with other motoring and road safety groups such as the RAC Foundation, the AA wanted urgent educational initiatives to tackle the ‘culture’ of dangerous driving long before young people reached their 17th birthday and were eligible for a licence.

The pressure for action at Westminster came just weeks after police leaders in Scotland convened a policy summit to deal with an alarming rise in the number of fatal car crashes involving young drivers.

Alarmingly, the Global Burden of Disease study undertaken by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Harvard University and the World Bank showed that in 1990, traffic crashes were assessed to be the world’s ninth most important health problem. The study forecasts that by the year 2020 road crashes would move up to third place in the table of leading causes of death and disability facing the world community.

For further information on road vehicle safety click here.