Deaths and Injuries on Britain’s roads – 2010

The IAM today welcomes new figures from the DfT that show another significant drop in road deaths and injuries on Britain's roads.

Today's Department for Transport statistics confirm numbers of people killed in road accidents in 2010 fell to 1,850 a reduction of 17 per cent on the previous year. Seriously injured numbers fell to 22,660 - down eight per cent.

Despite this decline, the IAM's latest poll reveals that very few of the 2700 respondents have any faith in road deaths continuing to drop: Twenty-five per cent think they will keep going down. Thirty-four per cent think they will remain the same, and 36 per cent of respondents think that casualty rates will rise a little over the next three years.

The poll respondents are realistic about the likelihood of getting improved services on their roads with the threat of spending cuts. Seventy per cent think there will be a negative impact on the number of police enforcing traffic laws, 84 per cent think road conditions and potholes will worsen, 72 per cent think there will be a negative impact on the focus on road safety education and fewer road safety officers, and 62 per cent think there will be more unroadworthy cars on the road.

Seventy per cent think improved vehicle design and technology is the biggest single reason for declining deaths and injuries on our roads and 37 per cent think that more incentives to take post-test training courses will deliver the biggest improvements in the future.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "The value of preventing each fatal crash on UK roads is around £1.8 million, and approximately £200,000 for each serious injury - it's clear that effective road safety initiatives not only save lives but also save the nation money.

"The government should think about the real value of road safety initiatives when it considers its expenditure plans.

"As more and more driver aids are introduced we need to re-think the way we approach safe driving.  Vehicle technology requires new thinking and an even greater emphasis on the driver as the decision-maker.

The challenge now is for us all to treat driving as a skill for life and embrace post-test training."

£12,000 – the cost of a first year’s motoring

Young drivers are likely to pay more than £12,000 for a year on the road, even before their car is driven anywhere, according to road safety charity the IAM.

In order to afford the costs of lessons and a first year of driving, a 17 year old male would have to pay £12,300. In 2009, the average full-time salary for 16-17 year-olds was £9,300 and for 18-21 year-olds, £14440. The biggest proportion of that cost is not the price of an insurance-friendly car, but the insurance itself. The breakdown of costs, excluding fuel and maintenance, is:

• Average cost of lessons before you pass test, £1128
• Driving test costs (theory and practical assuming first time pass), £100
• Five-year-old Kia Picanto, £3000
• Insurance (based on popular comparison site quote), £7900
• Tax and MOT, £180

Young men pay the most for insurance because they are the highest risk on the road. But legislation coming in at the end of 2012 will make it illegal for companies to discriminate on grounds of gender - young women are likely to see their premiums rise significantly. IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "The average cost of a claim by young drivers is £4,500, but insurance can cost nearly twice that. This will have an effect on road safety because young drivers are consequently unlikely to afford newer and safer vehicles. It also affects their chances of getting a job, especially in rural areas where a car is essential to get to work. "The IAM wants to see driving risks - and therefore claims - reduced with more pre-driving training for 14 to 16 year olds, so that they understand the skills they will need when they get behind the wheel.  "We also need to see post-test training for young drivers in the first 12 to 18 months after passing their driving test. In Austria this has been shown to cut the death rate for young male drivers by 30 per cent*. "Where drivers can demonstrate that post-test training reduces their risk, the insurance industry needs to respond with lower premiums." ENDS

Notes:

1. *In Austria new drivers have at least three further contacts with qualified instructors within 12 to 18 months of passing their driving test. This has successfully reduced the number of deaths of young male drivers by nearly 30 per cent. After taking the test, drivers have an initial assessment to gain knowledge of their experience and to highlight any deficiencies. This is followed by visits to a road safety centre to demonstrate handling in the wet, speed into corners and the impact of speed on stopping distances.
   
2. The IAM is the UK's largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving, motorcycling and cycling. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving, motorcycling and cycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.

http://www.iam.org.uk/

Cheapest Cars to Insure For 17-20 Year Olds Revealed

Ford KA and Peugeot top the poll

Ford KA2 cheapest car to insure for 17-20 year olds

Honda Civic most expensive car to insure for 17- 20 year olds¹

50% of under 25s could save up to £594 on car insurance

17-20 year olds pay over £4,000 a year for car insurance

New research from Confused.com has found the cheapest cars to insure for 17-20 year olds. The Ford KA2 topped the leader board followed closely by the Peugeot 107. However Confused.com data shows the worst car to run if you're a young driver and looking for low insurance prices is the Honda Civic. This research is capped and based on vehicles between the values of £600 to £10,000.

Car insurance costs for young drivers hit record highs in the second quarter this year, with 17-20 year olds paying as much as four times the average amount for car insurance.

The Confused/Towers Watson price index shows that motor insurance based on a 17-20 year old male is now £4,006 per year for comprehensive cover, highlighting the need for research when buying a car.

To help young drivers, Confused.com has undertaken research to give teenagers a helping hand and unveiled the five cheapest and most expensive cars to insure for 17-20 year olds.

Top five cheapest cars to insure for 17-20 year olds

Make	Yearly Insurance Cost	Monthly Insurance Cost
1. Ford KA2	£1,651.40	137.62
2. Ford KA	£1,781.25	148.44
3. Peugeot 107	£1,994.42	166.20
4. Daewoo Matiz	£2,258.26	188.19
5. Mini One	£2,268.85	189.07

Top five most expensive cars to insure for 17-20 year olds

Make	Yearly Insurance Cost	Monthly Insurance Cost
1. Honda Civic	£4,515.92	£376.33
2. Volkswagen Golf	£3,928.30	£327.36
3. Vauxhall Astra	£3,722.97	£310.25
4. Ford Focus	£3,677.06	£306.42
5. Renault Megane	£3,327.21	£277.26

 Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com says: "Young drivers and learners are telling us that the cost of insurance is the biggest barrier to getting behind the wheel: more so than the cost of buying the car.

"Buying your first car should be exciting, not a worry about whether you can afford the insurance costs. Here at confused.com we want to offer young drivers the chance to find the perfect car with the cheapest insurance."

"Once the car has been found drivers should shop around for cover as premiums can vary greatly between providers; a comparison site is a great way to do this."