A disturbing number of young drivers may be engaging in very risky business on our roads, according to results of a recent RACV survey.

The Young Victorian Driving Experience Survey, conducted through RACV’s free2go website and RoyalAuto, received submissions from 664 respondents aged 16 to 20 years.

Part of the survey involved asking participants if they had witnessed risky behaviour by a driver under age 25 while travelling in a car as a passenger during the past three months.

While 31 percent said they had seen their driver composing and sending a mobile phone text message, 34 percent also reported seeing the driver talking on a hand-held phone.

More than half of the respondents also said they had been in a car driven by someone under age 25 who was knowingly speeding.

Thanuja Gunatillake, RACV’s Road User Team Manager says while the majority of young drivers appeared to be doing the right thing, the mobile phone use findings were a serious concern.

“Research shows that talking on a mobile phone handset can impact on a driver’s decision-making processes and the ability to maintain speed and position on the road.”

“When you factor in speed, it really is an accident waiting to happen, one that could involve serious injury or even multiple fatalities… speeding is one of the major contributing factors to crashes on Victoria’s roads,” says Gunatillake.

Gunatillake said she was concerned by the survey results but not particularly surprised. Previous research involving older and more experienced drivers found as many as one in three had admitted to having used a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

“This latest survey indicates that many young drivers are not taking the risks of using mobile phones and speeding while driving seriously, and are putting their lives and the lives of their passengers at risk.”

“It is also worrying that young passengers are either not aware of the risks or that they are and perhaps do not feel comfortable enough to say something about it when they see a driver doing the wrong thing,” says Gunatillake.

Under a revamp of Victorian licensing rules, all mobile phone use, including hands-free or texting, were banned for learner drivers from July 2007 and for P1 drivers from July 1 this year. P2 drivers however, are permitted to use hands-free mobile kits while driving.

Gunatillake says statistics showed young drivers were most at risk as soon as they obtained a probationary licence, and in the first year of driving, the risk of crashing was three times higher than an experienced driver.

Drivers aged between 18 and 25 comprised about 15 percent of Victoria’s driving population but accounted for nearly 30 per cent of fatalities and serious injuries.

“RACV urges parents to take every effort to ensure their children are aware of the risks that they might be taking, either as a driver or passenger,” says Gunatillake.

Good news emerging from the survey was that an overwhelming number of respondents said they had not been driven by an under-25-year-old who was under the influence of alcohol, 87 percent, or illegal drugs, 97 percent.

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