Young people are being urged to avoid driving older and high-powered cars with a new study showing some young Australians are risking it all by driving unsafe cars.
The Buzz Insurance (a company of Insurance Australia Group) has analysed the type of cars owned or driven by their customers aged 21 and under, finding that 12% of inexperienced drivers are behind the wheels of older vehicles with poor safety features or large, high-powered cars.
A further 48% drive slightly older and moderately powered cars with some modern safety features like ABS or a single air bag according to the online insurer.
The good news is that 40% of new drivers have newer cars with modern safety features such as dual air bags and ABS brakes, and reasonably low powered engine- the best choice for a new driver.
Young drivers account for 25 per cent of drivers killed on Australia's roads. 178 drivers aged 17-25 years were killed in road crashes in Australia in 2009.
The Buzz Insurance CEO, Jacki Johnson, said parents could potentially help reduce the number of road injuries involving young drivers by helping them choose the right car.
“As a first step, it’s important our young drivers are in appropriate cars for their age, driving experience and road conditions” she added.
Ms Johnson said The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) awards a star rating from one to five for each vehicle following independent crash tests, indicating the level of safety they provide in the event of an accident.
Toyota Yaris Hatch (2008), Hyundai Getz Hatch (2009) and Mazda 3 Sedan (2009) are examples of car with high ANCAP ratings, equipped with modern safety features and moderately-powered engine, she said.
To help parents be better informed about issues such as choosing a safe car and become more confident in guiding teens through their learning-to-drive process, The Buzz, has launched an online community for parents of young drivers.
‘The Buzz Parents with Ps’ Facebook community gives parents a platform to discuss all facets of teaching and supervising their kids’ driving skills and behaviour. More than 500 parents have joined since its launch last month.
“It’s a one-stop source for sharing practical advice, tools and experiences so we can all help each other teach our kids to drive safer,” said Ms Johnson.
Parents can find useful tools such as a list of safe cars for new drivers, top tips and a parent-teen driving agreement at: http://www.facebook.com/buzzparentswithps
Click to download The Buzz tools and tips for parents with young drivers.
Get the Buzz on Twitter or join The Buzz Parents with Ps on Facebook.
Save on your car insurance claims with The Buzz Insurance.
The content, thoughts and opinions stated in this article are of the relevant contributors. The Buzz Insurance do not necessarily share or endorse those opinions. Neither The Buzz Insurance nor any of its employees makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or process disclosed.
