Experts have suggested that certain drivers could face “cognitive reviews” to be introduced to crack down on dangerous drivers and improve road safety around the UK.
New data from a nationwide study has found that motorists as a whole believe that young drivers tend to be more impulsive and irresponsible when at the wheel.
Younger drivers have been found to account for more motoring crimes than all other drivers over the age of 25, including reckless driving, losing control of the vehicle, speeding and drunk-driving.
The only contributing factor where Gen Z scored lower than the rest of the driving population was for “failing to look properly”. This was an issue for 19 per cent of Gen Z and 21 per cent for all other age groups.
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Experts have called for more to be done to improve road safety
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Data from the Department for Transport revealed that there were 29,711 people killed or seriously injured in vehicle collisions in 2023.
Of these, a concerning 17 per cent, or 4,959 people, were between the ages of 17 and 24, prompting the calls for more to be done to help motorists.
Dr Igor Smelyansky, a neurologist and Doctor of Medicine with Healthline, noted that most brains “don’t reach full maturation until 23-25 years of age”, when the prefrontal cortex starts to develop.
Until this point, adolescents and young adults rely on the amygdala to make decisions, which can make them more impulsive when behind the wheel.
He suggests that the underdevelopment of the brain once motorists start learning how to drive could make them more dangerous on the road, with drivers likely to take more risks.
Healthline noted that the neurological development usually takes place after the age of 25, with young people having a heightened “reward sensitivity”.
A spokeserson for Healthline said: “Known medically as the mesolimbic system, during your teenage years, this pathway is lined with dopamine-releasing neurons, which fire at an increased rate when you anticipate a reward or source of pleasure.
“As a result, teens are thought to be especially susceptible to substance misuse, alcohol misuse, and other thrill-seeking behaviours.”
CarMats.co.uk has suggested that “cognitive tests” could be introduced to ensure younger motorists are safe behind the wheel, amid calls for elderly drivers to ensure they are road safe.
Sheriff Principal Nigel Ross called for a fitness-to-drive test for elderly motorists following a crash which saw a 91-year-old woman run over a three-year-old child.
He said the change should be made “as a matter of priority” and recommended that any licence application for someone over 80 should involve a “short initial cognitive assessment”.
The Association of Optometrists recently launched a campaign to require all drivers to have their vision checked every time they renew their licence.
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Younger drivers could be more at risk on the roads than other motorists
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This would have a particular impact on elderly drivers since those over 70 need to renew their licence every three years, compared to every 10 years for all younger age groups.
Similar proposals include having drivers get a medical check before they renew their licence to ensure they are fit for the road. This would feature an eye test, neurological check and a self-assessment of whether any existing medical conditions have worsened.
