Surrey Fire and Rescue Service backs new national website to protect young drivers

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is proud to back a new national website dedicated to uniting efforts to cut the high number of crashes involving young drivers in Britain.

The website – www.protectyoungdrivers.com – brings together essential information on protecting young and novice drivers, highlighting the risks they face and solutions to reduce collisions. 

The new resource coincides with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) young driver campaign Operation Spotlight, supported by police forces and road safety teams across the UK from September 22 to October 5.

The site was developed in response to continuing concern about young driver safety:

• 24% of fatal or serious injury collisions in Britain involve 17 to 24-year-olds
• In 2023 alone, nearly 5,000 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions involving at least one young driver 
• Key factors known to increase crash risk include: Carrying similar-aged passengers, driving at night and risky behaviour – such as speeding or overtaking unsafely

Hosted by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), the website has been created as a shared resource and already has the backing of a wide range of supporters, including NPCC, NFCC, RAC Foundation, TRL, The AA, Brake, RoadPeace, IAM RoadSmart, Road Safety GB, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office and Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office. A full list of supporters can be viewed at www.protectyoungdrivers.com/partners. The website features key facts, timelines, international comparisons, research, lived experience from bereaved families and links to major reports and campaigns – all designed to help inform media, policymakers, MPs, practitioners and the public.

Countries including Canada, Australia and New Zealand are reducing young driver crashes with Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL) – a phased approach to learning to drive.

GDL schemes allow new drivers to build experience gradually and typically include restrictions on late-night driving when crash risk is highest, limits on carrying peer-aged passengers to reduce distraction and peer pressure and longer supervised learning periods before driving independently.

Countries with GDL have reduced fatal and serious crashes involving new drivers by 20-40%.

Dan Quin, Chief Fire Officer at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and Road Safety Lead for the National Fire Chiefs Council, said: “Every year we see the devastating consequences of crashes involving young drivers, both here in Surrey and across the country. That’s why we’re proud to support the Protect Young Drivers website. It provides clear, evidence-based information and solutions that can help reduce risks, save lives, and prevent families from experiencing tragedy. Working together nationally on this issue is vital if we are to make lasting change.”

Jamie Hassall, Executive Director at PACTS, said: “Young drivers face high risks – but tragedy isn’t inevitable. With the right support and safeguards, we can prevent lives being lost and families torn apart.

“The Protect Young Drivers website brings together vital information about the need to better protect young and novice drivers during their most vulnerable months on the road. Until now, this information has been scattered across multiple platforms.

“Many organisations are already making great efforts in this space, but there has never been a way to connect those efforts. This website fills that gap – providing a central hub and platform where families and professionals can be heard together and amplified nationally.”