Unsafe Cars Fueling Increased Road Risk For Young Drivers

MEDIA RELEASE           UNSAFE CARS FUELING INCREASED ROAD RISK FOR YOUNG DRIVERS New research looks under the bonnet for key road risk factors among Australian youth Despite already being the most vulnerable group, new research has revealed that young drivers are increasing their risk of road trauma by allowing basic safety essentials to go unchecked. In fact, the new data from Driver Safety Australia released today has shown that three in four drivers aged 25 and under are driving a car that is more than a decade old. Despite this, four in five young Australian drivers are guilty of not undertaking any regular checks on their car – either leaving it to someone else or naively believing a warning light would alert them to any safety issue. Even when faced with a specific issue like a broken headlight or worn windscreen wiper, the research revealed that young drivers are two times more likely to blow $50 on a meal out with friends than they would on fixing that safety concern. In fact, young drivers are more likely to spend money cleaning their car than they are fixing a critical safety issue. Alarmingly, the research also showed that two in five drivers aged 25 and under have knowingly driven on a car that had a safety issue at the time. Driver Safety Australia founder and CEO Russell White said this frightening research was not only endangering the lives of young drivers, but road users more generally. “Car crashes happen in an instant, and in that moment having a car in safe condition can be the difference between...

Supercheap Auto ‘Check It’

MEDIA RELEASE     UNSAFE CARS FUELLING INCREASED ROAD RISK FOR YOUNG DRIVERS New research looks under the bonnet of key road risk factors for New Zealand youth Despite already being the most vulnerable group, new research has revealed that young drivers are increasing their risk of road trauma by allowing basic safety essentials to go unchecked. In fact, the new data from Driver Safety New Zealand released today has shown that four in five drivers aged 25 and under, own a car that is more than a decade old. Despite this, two thirds of young New Zealand drivers are guilty of not undertaking any regular checks on their car – either leaving it to someone else or naively believing a warning light would alert them to any safety issues. Even when faced with a specific issue like a broken headlight or worn windscreen wiper, the research revealed that young drivers are six times more likely to blow $50 on a meal out with friends than they would on fixing a vehicle safety concern. In fact, young drivers are more likely to spend money cleaning their car than they are fixing a critical safety issue. Alarmingly, the research also showed that 40 per cent of those aged 25 and under, have driven a car they knew had a safety issue at the time. Driver Safety Australia & New Zealand founder and CEO Russell White said this frightening research was not only endangering the lives of young drivers, but road users generally. “Car crashes happen in an instant, and in that moment, having a car in safe condition can be...
Channel 7 Sunrise – Rage Rising on our Roads

Channel 7 Sunrise – Rage Rising on our Roads

Driver Safety Australia’s Russell White, speaks to channel 7 Sunrise about the rise in road violence incidents on our roads. It is clearly time to address our level of tolerance for our fellow road users. Watch the full video...
Channel 7 Sunrise – 3D Pedestrian Crossings

Channel 7 Sunrise – 3D Pedestrian Crossings

Driver Safety Australia’s Russell White, speaks to channel 7 Sunrise about the novel idea of 3D Pedestrian Crossings, which may change the way we see the road environment, creating greater situational awareness. Watch the full video...