The UK should get away from thinking about ‘problem’ young drivers and adopt a broader, more comprehensive approach to improve young driver safety.

The research calls for a change of approach on young driver safety.

That’s the finding of a new report written for the RAC Foundation and calling for a systems-based approach to young driver safety, looking at the social and environmental factors that put young drivers at risk.

Written by Associate Professor Teresa Senserrick of the University of New South Wales and Neale Kinnear of TRL, the paper argues that there must be an evidence-based approach to managing known risk factors – like driving at night and with peer-passengers – that everyone involved in the development of new drivers can support. The paper advocates looking again at the successes achieved by different forms of graduated licensing introduced around the world.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Of course, individuals must be responsible for their own actions, but this research suggests that we need to stand back and look at the bigger picture, to consider how the wider environment is setting young drivers up to fail or succeed.”For more of the latest industry news, click here.