The UK Government has “nudge” units for all kinds of things, from vaccinations to brutal murders and their impact on grief-stricken families. Maybe they should set one up to modify the behaviours of young, often male drivers, who enjoy racing on the public roads. In some ways it’s a natural thing, young men like to push themselves to the limit, but the place for that is the racetrack. Technology is now available to monitor vehicle speed, braking and cornering like never before, so perhaps it’s time to make telematics an integral part of the learner/recently passed driving experience?
Another glaring case of two-tier rules in the UK is the issue of graduated licences and power limits. Motorcycle riders under 24 cannot ride a bike making more than 47bhp and they have to be 19 to ride in that 47bhp A2 category motorcycle. Young car drivers can, ( in theory) pass their test at 17, buy a used Audi V6 and stick themselves on their aunt’s insurance as a named driver. In reality that would cost them over 10K in insurance, if they could find cover, but for the wealthy it’s an option.
So the law for car drivers under 25 needs to catch up with graduated motorcycle licensing rules. Again tech can restrict modern car power outputs, but the simple solution is to make high performance cars beyond the reach of drivers under 25. So learners and those recently passing a test can only drive a car making under 120bhp, minimum weight applies and acceleration to 62mph is over 10s. That would end the two-tier advantage young car drivers currently enjoy. And probably save dozens of lives. You have to wonder why successive UK governments haven’t already done that one obvious thing.
Here’s the word from IMS;
IMS, a global leader in connected insurance and telematics solutions, has called on the Government to use the CII’s telematics consultation on young driver safety as a catalyst for further action.
The consultation, launched following a coroner’s report into the tragic deaths of Harry Purcell and Matilda Seccombe, is seeking views on how insurers can use telematics more effectively to encourage safer driving among young people. It comes amid evidence that around one in five drivers is involved in a crash within a year of passing their test.
While the consultation is an important step, IMS says government support will be essential if the UK is to maximise the safety benefits of telematics.
According to the Government’s own data, in 2024 collisions involving a younger car driver accounted for 20% of all casualties in collisions involving cars in Great Britain, including 273 deaths and 4,467 serious injuries. Young male car drivers aged 17 to 24 are four times as likely to be killed or seriously injured per mile driven as car drivers aged 25 and over.
But data from the Department for Transport shows that casualties in collisions involving younger car drivers fell by 37% between 2010 and 2024, a period that saw telematics-based insurance move from niche to mainstream in the UK young-driver market.
IMS is calling on Government to work with insurers, road safety bodies and technology providers to accelerate telematics adoption among young drivers. Measures could include reviewing the impact of Insurance Premium Tax on telematics policies and supporting public awareness campaigns for parents and newly qualified drivers.
Paul Stacy, Chief Executive Officer at IMS, said: “One of our co-founders tragically lost his young son in a road traffic accident, and preventing further tragedy has been the compass that has guided the work we’ve done to improve young driver road safety since our company began.
“The CII consultation is a welcome recognition that telematics can play a meaningful role in reducing risk for young drivers. But this cannot be left to insurers and technology players alone. If we are serious about cutting collisions, reducing casualties and making insurance more affordable, government needs to help create the conditions for telematics to reach more young drivers.”
IMS is also calling for a broader conversation between government, motor manufacturers and insurers about how newer, safer vehicles can be made more accessible to young drivers.
While telematics can help improve behaviour behind the wheel, vehicle safety is another critical part of the equation. Many young drivers are priced into older, lower-value cars that are less likely to be equipped with the latest crash-avoidance technology, driver-assistance systems and improved occupant protection.
With the overall cost of motoring, including the car, insurance, fuel, tax and maintenance, remaining prohibitive for many young people, IMS believes there is an opportunity for manufacturers, finance providers and insurers to work together on new models that combine safer vehicles with telematics-enabled insurance.
Stacy added: “Young people face a difficult combination of higher road risk and rising motoring costs. Telematics gives them practical feedback, rewards safer driving, and gives families greater confidence, while newer motor models include safety features that can be lifesaving. The evidence shows it can make a difference, now we need policy support to help scale that impact.”
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