Department for Transport
Attitudes and Mindset of Young People
Despite progress in bringing down the total number of fatalities on the roads, the levels of accidents and casualties among young drivers remain stubbornly high. As part of the review of its ten year road safety strategy, the Department for Transport commissioned SHM in 2006 to investigate whether any part of the explanation of this worrying fact might lie in the attitudes and mindset of young people. The Department was particularly keen to avoid stereotyping young people.
SHM conducted a series of staged workshops with young people, using innovative qualitative techniques, to explore more about young people’s experiences of driving, and their perspectives on issues such as what makes good driving and how one gets to be a good driver. The research threw up some important findings, such as:
The report on this research, The Good, The Bad and The Talented (which is published at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme2/pdfgoodbadtalenteddriver.pdf) has had a significant effect on the road safety agenda, and was part of the evidence that prompted a government commitment to review approaches to learning to drive. As part of ongoing work by many parties to reduce the numbers of casualties among young drivers, SHM are regularly invited to speak at conferences and seminars on the findings from their research.
Attitudes and Mindset of Young People
Despite progress in bringing down the total number of fatalities on the roads, the levels of accidents and casualties among young drivers remain stubbornly high. As part of the review of its ten year road safety strategy, the Department for Transport commissioned SHM in 2006 to investigate whether any part of the explanation of this worrying fact might lie in the attitudes and mindset of young people. The Department was particularly keen to avoid stereotyping young people.
SHM conducted a series of staged workshops with young people, using innovative qualitative techniques, to explore more about young people’s experiences of driving, and their perspectives on issues such as what makes good driving and how one gets to be a good driver. The research threw up some important findings, such as:
- A distinction between the physical, emotional and social aspects of driving.
- A widespread belief that one only starts learning to drive after one has passed the test.
- A tendency to rely on confidence as a measure of competence as a driver – and a dangerous belief in some young drivers in their own innate talent.
