Latest news with #youngdrivers
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'It is a killer' – MLA calls for action after nearly 300 serious road incidents
Nearly 300 people have been killed or seriously injured on Northern Ireland's roads due to speeding between 2019 and 2023, according to new figures. The stark statistics reveal that 297 lives were lost or significantly impacted over the four-year period due to speed-related collisions, prompting fresh appeals for action from policymakers and enforcement bodies. Deborah Erskine, DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone and chair of the Stormont Infrastructure Committee, described the figures as 'sobering' She said: "Between 2019 and 2023, 297 people were either killed or seriously injured as a result of speeding on our roads. "Behind each of these figures is a family left grieving or a person living with life-altering injuries. "My thoughts are with all those who have suffered loss or trauma." Ms Erskine highlighted young drivers aged 16 to 24 as a group of particular concern, accounting for over two-fifths of serious casualties linked to speeding. Read more: First Minister to open 2025 Sean Mac Diarmada Summer School Males were found to be responsible for more than three-quarters of all such collisions resulting in death or serious injury. She said: "We must ask serious questions about driving culture, education, and enforcement, especially among younger drivers." The data also showed that 70 per cent of speeding-related incidents took place on rural roads, with nearly 40% occurring over the weekend, particularly between 4pm and 10pm. Ms Erskine is now calling for a strategic, cross-departmental response, involving not only law enforcement but also education and public health initiatives. She said: "As chair of the Infrastructure Committee, I am calling for greater urgency and coordination between the minister and all stakeholders, including the PSNI. "Tackling speeding must be a strategic priority, not just a policing issue, with a cross-departmental approach, involving education and enforcement. "One death on our roads is one too many. "There is a role for all of us. "Slowing down, staying alert, and respecting other road users are basic responsibilities that save lives. "We need to change attitudes, especially among those who see speed as a measure of confidence or skill. It isn't – it is a killer.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
UK traffic accident map: The worst areas for road incidents revealed
There were more than 120,000 road traffic casualties in Britain last year, including 1,600 fatalities, official figures show. Nearly 30,000 people were killed or severely injured from January to December 2024, according to provisional estimates from the Department for Transport (DfT). More than three in four (76 per cent) people killed in road traffic collisions were men, and 61 per cent of casualties of all severities were male, the DfT estimates. Among the four main road user groups — cars, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists — motorcyclists experienced the most significant change in fatalities. The number of motorcyclist deaths increased by 9 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023, according to the DfT. Some 343 riders lost their lives in crashes in 2024, up from 315 during the previous 12 months. There was also an increase in pedestrian deaths, up 2 per cent from 405 in 2023 to 413 in 2024. People aged 17–29 made up 24 per cent of road deaths and 28 per cent of all casualties, and those aged 70 and over were involved in 22 per cent of fatalities but just 8 per cent of overall casualties. The map below shows the number of road traffic casualties across all local authority areas in Great Britain: In total, there were 128,375 casualties of all severities last year – a 3 per cent decrease compared to 2023 – and 1,633 fatalities – a 1 per cent increase compared to the previous year. The number of people killed or seriously injured remained largely unchanged compared to 2023 at 29,537. The local authorities with the highest number of road traffic casualties: Kent - 3,921 Surrey - 3,145 Birmingham - 3,056 Lancashire - 2,992 Essex - 2,980 Hampshire - 2,925 Lincolnshire - 2,288 Hertfordshire - 2,270 West Sussex - 2,252 Norfolk - 2,157 AA president Edmund King said: 'Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and sadly we are still losing at least four people a day. 'If this level of loss was experienced on any other form of transport, there would be a national inquiry and public outcry. 'Yet, for some reason, we seem to accept this as the risk of moving around our communities. This should not be the case.' Mr King called for the government's upcoming road safety strategy to include 'bold action' such as harsher penalties for not wearing a seatbelt or drug driving. He also stressed the need to 'safeguard newly qualified drivers ' to ensure they feel confident on the road before 'exposing them to additional risks' such as carrying passengers of a similar age. The DfT was approached for comment.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Death knell for a century-old driving skill: It is rapidly becoming a dying art that electric cars will kill off entirely
A driving skill the majority of motorists perfected when taking their driving test is rapidly becoming a dying art - and one that will disappear entirely when electric cars become mainstream. The act of changing gear is 'on its way out', with vehicle manufacturers already culling manual gearboxes, according to a market review. It found that just 96 models in showrooms today are available with a manual transmission. In contrast, there are 404 new cars to buy that come exclusively with automatic gearboxes. It means fewer than a fifth of new models now have a traditional gearstick - a feature that dates back to the 1891 Panhard et Levassor, the vehicle widely recognised as the first with a manual transmission. And the skill of changing gear is likely to become obsolete entirely in new models once the sale of new petrol and diesel models is banned in 2030 and car makers can only sell hybrid and electric vehicles in showrooms - both of which use automatic gearboxes. It also appears young drivers are preparing for this transition, with auto-only driving tests on the rise as new motorists ditch changing gear. Almost one in four learners are now choosing to take their test in an automatic car, according to the latest figures published by the DVSA. Of the 1,945,225 practical driving tests sat in the financial year 2023/24, 445,276 did so in automatics. This represents 23.4 per cent of all tests. It was a sharp increase on the year previous when just 19.2 per cent of tests (324,064 of 1,688,955) were auto-only. Five years earlier (2019/20), automatic driving tests accounted for just 12.7 of all practical tests; and wind the clocks back a decade (to 2014/15) and they represented a mere 6.9 per cent of tests. It means auto-only has risen from less than one in fourteen driving tests 10 years ago to one in four today. However, pass rates in automatics - despite the general belief that they are easier to drive - are statistically lower. In the last fiscal year, the pass rate for auto-only tests was just 42.8 per cent; for all driving tests, the average pass rate was 47.9 per cent. The acceleration in popularity is despite auto-only licence holders facing one major restriction. Anyone who passes in a manual car can legally drive any motor irrespective of its gearbox, but those who take auto-only tests are limited to only automatic vehicles. While this could pose problematic in some scenarios, such as when drivers want to rent motors abroad and face higher costs or limiting availability of auto vehicles, the new car market shows a huge drive towards automatics. In fact, the significant rise in auto-only tests mirrors the rapidly diminishing availability of new cars with manual transmissions in recent years. In a similar study of the UK car market conducted by CarGurus, it found that the choice of new models with manual gearboxes had shrunk by 57 per cent compared to 2015. It said, at the rate of decline currently see, the manual gearbox will be 'lost forever' in new motors by 2037. The demise of the gear stick will gather pace more dramatically from 2030, when only hybrid and electric cars can be sold in Britain. Every hybrid and EV available today comes with an automatic transmission, meaning the art of changing gear will be extinct in new cars from the end of the decade. That said, some brands are using 'simulated' gearboxes, which are automatic systems tweaked to feel like a manual to provide an increased level of involvement for the driver. Paul Barker, editor at Auto Express, said the sector is seeing a 'seismic shift in gearbox preference'. 'With EVs now exclusively automatic and more new drivers opting for auto-only licences, automatics are no longer the compromise choice – they're fast becoming the default,' he said. While manuals are far more involving, Barker says that autos are becoming more appealing beyond their convenience. Semi-automatic system's including VW's DSG, Porsche's PDK and BMW's DCT offer 'fast shifts, better fuel economy, and a sportier drive that appeals to both everyday users and enthusiasts,' he said. 'And the latest conventional automatics and CVTs deliver smooth, seamless performance – perfect for urban traffic and long-distance cruising alike. 'In many cases, they now outperform their manual counterparts.' CarGurus' previous market analysis looked only at the existing availability of manual models from the 31 best-selling manufacturers in Britain. It found that just 82 or the 278 models in showrooms came with a gear stick. The analysis revealed that seven brands have already stopped selling new motors with manual transmissions. Land Rover and Mini are now entirely auto only - both of them losing their last manual gearbox option in the last 12 months. Other makers that also don't have manuals includes Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo - as well as EV-only makes, Polestar and Tesla. The number of new models per brand with manual gearboxes Audi: 4 - A1, A3, Q2, Q3 BMW: 3 - 1 Series, 2 Series (Gran Coupe), M2 Citroen: 6 - Berlingo, C3, C3 Aircross, C4, C4 X, C5 Aircross Cupra: 2 - Formentor, Leon Dacia: 5 (all) - Duster, Jogger, Sandero Stepway, Sandero, Bigster Fiat: 2 - 500, 500C Ford: 6 - Focus, Kuga, Mustang, Puma, Ranger, Tourneo Honda: 1 - Civic TYPE R Hyundai: 5 - Bayon, i10, i20, Kona, Tuscon Jaguar*: 0 Jeep: 1 - Avenger (hybrid) Kia: 4 - Ceed, Picanto, Sportage, Xceed Land Rover: 0 Lexus: 0 Mazda: 5 - CX-30, CX-5, Mazda2, Mazda3, MX-5 Mercedes-Benz: 0 MG: 3 - MG3, HS, ZS Mini: 0 Nissan: 2 - Juke, Qashqai Peugeot: 2 - 2008, 208 Polestar: 0 Porsche: 3 - 911, Boxster, Cayman Renault: 2 - Clio, Captur Seat: 4 - Arona, Ibiza, Leon, Ateca Skoda: 5 - Fabia, Kamiq, Karoq, Octavia, Scala Suzuki: 4 - Ignis, S-Cross, Swift, Vitara Tesla: 0 Toyota: 3 - Aygo X, GR Yaris, Hilux Vauxhall: 3 - Astra, Corsa, Mokka Volkswagen: 7 - Golf, Polo, Taigo, T-Cross, T-Roc, Touran, Transporter Volvo: 0 TOTAL: 82 Source: CarGurus *Jaguar current sells no new cars but had no manual gearbox models in 2024 and will be all-electric in 2026, meaning only automatic transmissions Changing gear in a new car will be almost obsolete from the start of the next decade when only hybrid and electric vehicles are allowed to be sold in showrooms. All currently come with auto gearboxes Manual gearbox defunct in new cars from 2030 - can it be saved? From 2030, only conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric cars will be available from new in dealerships in Britain. Currently, not a single model across these three fuel types have a manual gearbox. This is because an electric drivetrain with instant torque simply requires a single gear. However, some brands are dabbling with systems that make an automatic feel more like a manual. Hyundai's Ioniq 5 N hot SUV (costing from £65,000) already has a 'simulated' manual gearbox using paddleshifts behind the wheel. Despite having a single-speed gearbox, the N e-shift system replicates the sensation and engine sound of a combustion engine. It even has a rev counter redlined to 8,000rpm - once you hit this in a gear, it will accelerate no more, as with a conventional manual transmission. Change down the gears and it will simulate the blipping of the throttle. It's a clever feature design to make EVs more engaging, with Toyota also developing its own simulated manual gearbox. This has already been fed into the Japanese manufacturer's luxury brand, Lexus, with a simulated manual gearbox called 'Interactive Manual Drive' available in the new RZ SUV. When the driver uses the fake gear stick and clutch to select first, the system will allow for lots of torque but have a low limited top speed in that gear. In sixth, there will be less torque available but will not have a limit on the electric motor speed That said, the mechanical transmission most licence holders have learned to drive in will soon start to disappear when new cars transition to electric power. Supercars and niche models built in low production volumes - think small sports car like Caterhams and Ariels - have also been given a stay of execution from the ban on new petrol and diesel models at the end of the decade. It means only the super-rich and petrol head enthusiasts will theoretically still be able to buy manual cars after 2030. However, by 2035 these are also likely to be forced to go electric, almost certainly rendering the gear shift extinct.
Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Times
‘He's giving it his all. When you invest, that's what you want'
The Gymshark co-founder Lewis Morgan has snapped up a 15 per cent stake in MyFirst, a car insurance company targeting young drivers, and is backing the start-up to reach unicorn status. Morgan, who started Gymshark in 2013 with Ben Francis, bought out existing shareholders and said he believed the company would achieve a £1 billion valuation in the coming years. As part of the same transaction, an existing minority shareholder, Rob Pierre, who is best known as the co-founder of Jellyfish, a digital marketing agency, has increased his stake from seven to 20 per cent. James Noble launched MyFirst in 2016 after struggling to secure cover for his first car. At the time he was working as a golf caddy with no experience in the
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Young drivers increasing target of this insurance scam with cases jumping 50% in two years
Young drivers have become a huge target for fraudsters attempting to scam them out of thousands of pounds with the promise of cheaper motor insurance. With 17 to 19-year-olds facing premiums almost three times the UK average and motorists between 20 and 29 typically paying double, these drivers have become prey for scam artists pedalling fake car insurance policies. The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) says it has detected a 50 per cent jump in 'ghost broker' activity in the last two years as it urges caution to younger motorists who might be tempted by offers of cut-price cover. Ghost brokers impersonate car insurance brokers on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok wanting to make contact via messaging services like WhatsApp with the promise of significantly cheaper cover than they would be quoted by genuine insurers. The IFB says it can have 'devastating' impact on those falling foul of the scam, with victims left thousands of pounds out of pocket, having their identities stolen and vehicles seized, and potentially facing criminal consequences for driving uninsured. To make young people more aware of this fraudulent activity, it has listed four major red flags they need to watch out for. The IFB says in 2022 it detected 320 intelligence networks relating to ghost broker activities. This grew to 435 in 2023 and 485 during 2024 - a 52 per cent increase on two years previous. Ghost brokers go to extreme lengths to masquerade as genuine insurance brokers presenting what look like legitimate policies at far lower prices. These criminals alter policy details to make them appear less expensive. Sometimes it is only when drivers try to make a claim that they realise the policy is not valid. This type of criminal activity commonly preys on younger drivers who are typically more trusting of social media. A YouGov survey commissioned by the IFB and carried out among more than 2,000 people across the UK in May 2024 found that nearly a fifth of 18 to 24-year-olds have used social media to search for car insurance. A poll by Aviva last year - surveying 2,000 drivers under 25 - also found 30 per cent admitted to buying invalid or fake car insurance from someone on social media. Younger motorists are also likely to be less financially savvy while also facing the steepest insurance costs. Money Supermarket's latest report for the first quarter of the year says the average premium paid across all motorists was £539.41. However, for youngest on the road (17 to 19-year-olds) are forking out almost three times that amount at £1408.98 a year. For drivers aged 20 to 29, the average price paid in the first three months of the year was £1091.13 - almost twice the national average. Criminals may try to lure people by offering cheap upfront quotes, despite insurance prices being based on the risk of the individual. Policies are taken out using stolen details which belong to people who are cheaper to insure and sold on at an artificially reduced rate, or they may simply be copied on to a piece of paper. Ghost brokers may also do further damage to their victims by stealing their personal information to use in other crimes, such as banking fraud. To help protect young drivers, the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the City of London Police and the IFB, in association with the Government's Stop! Think Fraud campaign, have launched a drive to raise awareness of the signs of ghost broking. Ursula Jallow, IFB director, said: 'New drivers are caught out by ghost brokers because they face higher premiums and have had less experience in purchasing insurance policies for themselves, which unfortunately means they are more likely to be attracted to car insurance deals that are too good to be true. 'The impact is devastating. We've seen victims lose thousands of pounds, have their identities stolen, their confidence and self-esteem shattered, and, in some cases, they have even had their car seized for driving uninsured. 'It's really important that we spread the word to help protect young drivers from ghost brokers.' Around 115,000 fraudulent motor insurance policies were detected by the IFB in partnership with the insurance industry between 2023 and 2024, with ghost brokers believed to be responsible for thousands of these cases. Fraud minister Lord Hanson said: 'Young people especially need to be aware that the scammers are deliberately targeting them through their social media feeds with attractive and authentic-looking offers which will leave them ripped off and driving uninsured.' Detective chief inspector Nik Jethwa, from the City of London Police's Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, added: 'Always be cautious when buying insurance. 'Ask yourself: is the insurance broker you are dealing with really who they say they are? 'If you aren't sure, check the lists of authorised brokers at the Financial Conduct Authority and British Insurance Brokers' Association websites.' Ghost broker red flags The IFB has listed four key red flags that typically giveaway a ghost broker. These are: 1. The policy may be unrealistically cheap, with an upfront quote. 2. The seller only wants to communicate in private direct messages on social media or WhatsApp. Messages can often include bad spelling and typically provide vague details. 3. The advert may look unprofessional. 4. The seller may not have a legitimate website, UK landline number or address. If drivers experience any of these, there are ways to check the legitimacy of those offering cheap cover. You can then: 1. Check the insurance broker is registered with the British Insurance Brokers' Association. 2. If dealing with an insurer, check they are a member of the Motor Insurers' Bureau. 3. Whether broker or insurer, check they are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. Anyone who thinks they have been a victim of ghost broking or other fraud can report their concerns to CheatLine or by calling 0800 422 0421.
