The Road to Going Solo
Why are newly qualified drivers more likely to crash than ‘Learners’?
- Both are inexperienced but, unlike Learners, newly qualified drivers drive in high-risk situations without supervision.
As a parent you should recognise that:
- You are a major influence on the driving behaviour of your son/daughter.
- The most important factor in newly qualified driver crashes is inexperience combined with certain driving situations, not solely risk-taking/personality.
- Therefore, every newly qualified driver is at risk (not just the ‘boy racers’).
- While the ability to manage the vehicle is attained in the Learner phase, this is just the beginning for becoming a safe driver.
- Limiting your new qualified driver to less risky driving conditions in the first 12-months will reduce their risk of being involved in a crash—see our Vehicle Access Agreement.
- You may wish to reward your newly qualified driver for complying with the Vehicle Access Agreement.
Occasionally supervising – being a passenger with your newly qualified driver – is a good way for them to gain experience in high-risk situations and to ensure that they still have good driving habits.
