The safety campaign group IMA RoadSmart has revealed the results of a shocking new study that has found that nearly a third of dangerous driving endorsements are held by motorists under the age of 25.
According to the charity, 38 percent of DD40 endorsements, given for dangerous driving offences, were issued to the youngest drivers on the road during 2023, those born since 2007.
Speaking to the motoring publication Auto Express, Nicholas Lyse, Director of Policy at IMA RoadSmart, highlighted that the results show a lack of responsibility and perception of risk from under 25s.
He explained: “Many young people don’t take responsibility when they’re in charge of a one-or-more-tonne piece of metal and that comes with very tragic consequences.
“Statistically, [dangerous driving] is a bigger problem amongst younger men as their brains typically take longer to develop the idea of risk.”
IMA Roadsmart also highlighted that the number of endorsements for dangerous driving increased considerably during 2023.
Over the 12-month period, 1,928 were issued to drivers aged from 17 to 25 years old, a rise of around 350 compared to two years prior.
The charity also highlighted that the trend is set to continue during 2024, with the first half of the year resulting in a staggering 1,128 new endorsements for younger motorists.
One of the main reasons in which cases of dangerous driving appear to be increasing among younger motorists is due to the rise in popularity of social media videos.
Nicholas called on social media organisations to remove the videos from their platforms in a bid to prevent encouraging others from copying them.
He added: “There’s a responsibility on social media platforms to take this type of content down. In an age of artificial intelligence, it’s frustrating that this type of content isn’t removed within minutes.”
