Only Half of Young Drivers Feel Ready to Hit the Roads – AAMI Research

Sydney, Australia (PRWEB) January 24, 2012

Only half of young drivers in Australia feel that current driver licensing requirements give them enough training, according to research from leading national motor insurer, AAMI. (1)

AAMI’s 11th annual Young Drivers Index, due out next month, shows that 71% of drivers aged 18-24 agree it should be compulsory for all young drivers to do a safe driving course.

AAMI Corporate Affairs Manager Reuben Aitchison said that the research is a wake up call. "This means we have tens of thousands of young people qualifying for their licenses every year without feeling prepared for what may happen on the roads."

The AAMI research also found that young drivers are just as in favour of further training before they qualify for their licence with 63% feeling that it should be mandatory for learners to do a minimum number of hours with a qualified driving instructor or driving school.

"Young drivers and P-Platers have just been trained," Mr Aitchison pointed out. "They certainly have studied the road rules and passed their tests, so they know what they should be doing. More importantly, they know what they should not be doing. And yet they do it anyway. Obviously knowledge does not necessarily equal understanding."

Since 1982, AAMI has been providing training courses for P-platers to encourage positive driving behaviours through the AAMI Skilled Drivers program.

Tony Barber, AAMI Skilled Drivers Program Manager notes, "What many young people don’t understand when they get their licence is the limitations of their experience. Often they don’t understand the consequences of the decisions they make such as adding that extra 10kms per hour or answering the phone."

"Young drivers also don’t necessarily understand the limitations of their vehicle and that their driving must be adapted to match the road conditions. The focus is on simply passing the test rather than understanding the link between decisions and outcomes on the road," said Mr Barber.

The 2011 AAMI Young Drivers Index is the 11th annual AAMI road safety index published to inform and educate the community about risky driving behaviours in young adults (18-24 yrs old) and what the consequences of these behaviours are.

(1) The Index is based on an independent internet survey conducted by Newspoll Market & Social Research of 3,740 Australian drivers, 18 years of age and older, across all states and territories in 2011. 1,121 of respondents were aged 18-24 years. Collected data has been weighted in line with current ABS population demographics to ensure any extrapolation of results is representative of age sex and area. The AAMI Skilled Drivers Program was founded in 1982 in response to community concerns. It is a one-day theory and practical course which encourages positive behaviour in drivers under the age of 25.

At AAMI, we know that you want to be sure your car is properly protected by the insurance policy you purchase. AAMI is a leading provider of comprehensive car insurance with benefits such as lifetime repair guarantee; lifetime rating one and valet service. Insurance issued by Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd (AAMI). Refer to the Product Disclosure Statement at AAMI or call 13 22 44.

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