Help keep young drivers safe
Worried about a young driver? Your concern matters – and it can make a real difference. Here's what the evidence says, and how to turn it into action.
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Around 1 in 5 new drivers will be in a collision within a year
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The penalties for young drivers are tough
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Age, inexperience, and attitudes towards risk are the main problems
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Advanced training can really improve skills
Know the facts
Young drivers aged 17–25 are the highest-risk group on Scotland’s roads – more likely to be involved in a collision, and more likely to be at fault. Around 1 in 5 new drivers will be involved in a collision within their first year after passing their test. The biggest factor isn’t attitude, it’s inexperience. Hazard perception, reading road conditions, and making sound decisions under pressure all develop over time, not in a test.
The risk is highest in specific situations: driving at night, on rural roads, and with young passengers in the car. And your involvement as a parent, carer, or educator makes a measurable difference – not just during the learning phase, but in the critical months and years after the test is passed.
Watch for signs
You don’t need to be in the car to notice warning signs. Unexplained scrapes or dents, reluctance to talk about where they’ve been or who was with them, or a pattern of coming home much later than expected are all worth a gentle conversation.
Overconfidence is a signal too. Phrases like “I’m a better driver than most people my age”, or comments that normalise risk (“everyone speeds on that road”), can indicate a gap between how capable they feel and how capable they are.
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, you don’t need hard evidence to open a conversation. Curiosity is enough of an opener.
Start the conversation
One of the biggest barriers for parents and educators is knowing how to open the conversation without it becoming a lecture. These prompts are designed to invite reflection, not trigger defensiveness.
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"I read that the first year after passing is actually the riskiest – did you know that?"
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"What's it like when your mates are in the car – do you feel any different?"
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"What would you do if a friend was distracting you or encouraging you to speed?"
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"If your friend was driving dangerously, what would you do? What makes that hard?"
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"What's your plan if you're out and you've had a drink – have you thought about it in advance?"
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"What would you do if you got in a car and realised the driver had been drinking or taking something?"
Parent/young driver agreements
A parent/young driver agreement can help keep young drivers safe. For example, this can simply be a set of verbal or written promises between a parent and young driver for a few months after passing their test.
These may include:
- Not driving between certain times at night, for example, between midnight and 6am
- A maximum number of people in the car (which might vary according to the time of the day)
- A zero alcohol limit when driving
- A zero drug limit when driving
- No mobile phone use while driving
- Keeping within speed limits
- Wearing a seatbelt at all times
- Black Box technology being fitted in the car
In return, a parent might agree to:
- Make a car available
- Collect them after a certain time, so they don’t drive home late at night
Brain development
Studies show the prefrontal cortex of the human brain, which regulates impulsive behaviour, doesn’t reach full maturity until adults are at least in their mid-twenties.
The studies also show increased limbic activity, meaning that young people are more likely to be influenced by their friends and indulge in thrill-seeking behaviour.
Areas where young drivers are most likely to be involved in collisions:
- Country roads
- Drink-driving
- Drug-driving
- Distractions
- Speeding
- Around more vulnerable road users
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