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Young drivers face staggering bills to get on the road
publication date: Sep 28, 2011
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author/source: Robin Roberts
Young drivers are likely to pay more than £12,000
for a year on the road, even before their car is driven anywhere, according to
road safety charity the IAM.
| In order to afford the costs of lessons and a first
year of driving, a 17 year old male would have to pay £12,300. In 2009, the
average full-time salary for 16-17 year-olds was £9,300 and for 18-21
year-olds, £14440.
The biggest proportion of that cost is not the
price of an insurance-friendly car, but the insurance itself.
Young men pay the most for insurance because they
are the highest risk on the road. But legislation coming in at the end of
2012 will make it illegal for companies to discriminate on grounds of
gender - young women are likely to see their premiums rise significantly.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said, "The average
cost of a claim by young drivers is £4,500, but insurance can cost nearly twice
that. This will have an effect on road safety because young drivers are
consequently unlikely to afford newer and safer vehicles. It also affects their
chances of getting a job, especially in rural areas where a car is essential to
get to work."The IAM wants to see driving risks - and therefore
claims - reduced with more pre-driving training for 14 to 16 year olds, so that
they understand the skills they will need when they get behind the wheel.
| The costs, excluding fuel and maintenance are:
| - Average
cost of lessons before you pass test, £1128
- Driving
test costs (theory and practical assuming first time pass), £100
- Five-year-old
Kia Picanto, £3000
- Insurance
(based on popular comparison site quote), £7900
- Tax
and MOT, £180
| "We also need to see post-test training for young
drivers in the first 12 to 18 months after passing their driving test. In Austria this
has been shown to cut the death rate for young male drivers by 30 per cent*.
"Where drivers can demonstrate that post-test
training reduces their risk, the insurance industry needs to respond with lower
premiums." | | |
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