Four teenagers die in cars each week

New figures have revealed that more than four teenage passengers die or are injured per week in car accidents.

The RAC Foundation found that in 2013, 234 teenage car passengers were killed or seriously injured in Britain when the young driver (17-19) they were travelling with was involved in a crash.

These shocking figures have only emphasised the need for the government to tackle this problem. Stephen Glaister, RAC Foundation Director, said: “it’s a great disappointment that successive governments have failed to back an issue that is causing so much physical and emotional pain” 

“If this was any other area of social and health policy, there would be debates in parliament, but for some reason society seems to tolerate the carnage on our roads, particularly that involving young people.”

Brake, a car safety charity, states that young divers are more likely to take many of the most serious risks, including overtaking blind, driving under the influence and not wearing a seat belt.

Brake’s senior community engagement officer said: “it’s an avoidable tragedy that far too many young people die on our roads.”

The RAC has called for the introduction of graduated licenses. This includes a minimum learning period followed by a post-test novice driver period with license restrictions.

Mr Malik, who’s teenage son was killed as a passenger in a car driven by another teenager, said: “we want to get the council involved, plus the RAC and AA talking about it. We need to get more safety measures on the roads.”

With these figures showing the devastating truth behind accidents involving young people, hopefully some new actions will be put into place to reduce or even prevent the high number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads.

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