Community Safety

Since 1989, Victoria's road toll has had a large reduction. The 18 to 25 age group, however, continues to be vastly over-represented in road trauma statistics.

Young Victorians in their first year of driving are almost four times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious injury crash than more experienced drivers. The reasons for this include:

• A lack of experience and road awareness
• Limited ability and judgment
• Underestimation of risks
• Deliberate risk-taking behaviours
• Alcohol and drug use.

The risks

• A young driver’s risk of being involved in a fatal crash is over five times higher when carrying two or more passengers than when travelling alone.
• Young passengers are most likely to be killed in a car when travelling with young drivers.
• For young male drivers, the riskiest combination is travelling with young male passengers.
• Passengers are central to risky driving, especially where young men are involved.
• Young male passengers often actively encourage their male peers to engage in risky driving behaviour.
• Many young males say they drive in a risky way to show off to young male passengers, even if the passengers have not asked them to.

The reasons

Common reasons given for unsafe driving by young drivers include:

• Sense of invincibility
• Impressing friends and wanting to be accepted
• Peer group pressure
• Going along with the crowd and not wanting to be left out
• Don’t feel they can say no or speak up when they are in a risky situation.