A new survey has recently revealed that up to 30% of young people are filming themselves while they drive for the sake of creating social media content. The figures include those who are taking pictures and also those who are making full videos. Furthermore, 57% of those who confessed to this put the content on social media with no issues.
A Disturbing Number
The research which revealed this disturbing number was conducted by a road safety charity that took a look at 1000 drivers who had a full driving licence. The research revealed a worrying set of facts and figures about the habits of those between the ages of 18 and 26.
New data reveals that roughly one in five drivers will crash within the first year of passing their test. 5000 people are either seriously injured or killed each year due to a crash involving a new driver. These types of figures are a sobering reminder that it’s important to be fully engaged when driving and to concentrate completely on the task.
Unfortunately, the survey results do not stop there. The data also showed that 41% of young people have driven while being too tired to do so, and one person in every six has sent a text message while they are behind the wheel of a car. It’s worth noting that using a mobile phone behind the wheel of a vehicle is still a crime, and it can result in six points on a driving license and £200 in fines.
More disturbingly, 5% of young drivers have admitted that they have driven whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. On a positive note, it has been shown that 90% of those who participated in the survey believe that they follow the rules of the road properly.
New Tests Needed?
The investigation has revealed figures and facts that have made some people call for new tests and forms of licensing in order to ensure that young people have the experience and skills necessary to make sensible decisions on the road, as many feel that the current system is becoming outdated.
Nicholas Lyes is the Policy and Standards Director at IAM RoadSmart, who conducted the survey. He had the following to offer:
“Young people can often feel invincible behind the wheel, but the government statistics paint a different picture.
Meanwhile our research reveals some worrying habits, like speeding and using phones behind the wheel, all of which can have devastating consequences. This shows the government needs to consider a statutory minimum period of learning to allow new drivers to gain confidence, experience and skills.
There is also an appetite for younger drivers to take additional driving courses, but given the costs they face, we believe there must be some financial reward for doing so through lower premium costs or taxation.”
It’s clear that change is perhaps needed in order to help deliver the results people need. After all, there are many different ways young people can present a danger to themselves or others on the road, and it is the responsibility of higher powers to implement changes to prevent this.