Nervous driver casualty figures demonstrate need for additional training - News

• Department for Transport figures released today show that nervous drivers and riders cause 1,062 accidents in 2019
• Latest figures show a decrease over recent years, but will lockdown have an impact on 2020’s figures?
• TrackDays.co.uk carries out the analysis on the Government’s annual road casualty data and highlights need for alternative driver training methods, such as young driver programmes

Official figures released today (30th September) show that nervous, uncertain or panicking drivers and riders were a contributory factor in 1,062 reported road accidents in 2019.

Further analysis of the Department for Transport’s latest figures by TrackDays.co.uk also found that this is, however, a decrease over recent years. In fact, the number of reported accidents when nervous, uncertain or panicking drivers or riders were a contributory factor fell from 1,836 in 2015 to 1,278 in 2018.

Meanwhile though, recent independent research from a leading road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, discovered that one-in-five drivers feel more anxious about driving since lockdown.

Dan Jones, operations manager at TrackDays.co.uk, which provides a variety of young driver training packages, said: "Driving on the open road can be a scary experience for some motorists, as reflected in these latest official figures, so additional training might be invaluable for some drivers."

"Indeed, starting from a very young age, even just 10 years old, with a young driver training experience, can help boost confidence, while with winter fast approaching, a skid pan experience, can help those who get jittery driving in adverse weather conditions."

Meanwhile, other findings from the Department for Transport annual report found that learner or inexperienced drivers or riders were a contributory factor in 2,872 reported accidents in 2019, a decrease over recent years.

Dan added: "It will be interesting to see the figures for 2020 when they are released, to see if lockdown has had a negative effect on driver confidence, which seems to be the case, due to even less time spent behind-the-wheel, plus the fact that driving lessons and tests were heavily disrupted."

Head to our dedicated pages on TrackDays to find out more about our Young Driver Training experiences and Skid Pan experiences that can help enhance car handling skills, where you can also book for them from available dates or purchase of our gift vouchers.