Young Kiwis drivers most at risk of accident

Young drivers are 26 percent more likely to have an accident compared to all other drivers. Photo: Valerie Kaarna

Stark statistics from AMI Insurance show that drivers under the age of 25 are 26 percent more likely to have an accident compared to all other drivers.

The data highlights the importance of driver training and safety, awareness from all drivers on the roads, and having insurance in case things go wrong.

AMI’s Executive General Manager Claims, Wayne Tippet says that AMI is committed to helping keep young drivers safe on the road. “We want to raise awareness around the issue, and let young drivers know that we are here to help.”

In terms of the riskiest region for young drivers, Northland leads by a substantial amount – the average rate of claims for drivers under 25 in Northland (at 25 percent) is 6 percent higher than the nationwide average for under 25-year-olds (at 19 percent). 

The East Coast was second at 22 percent, followed by Hawkes Bay, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty (all at 21percent). Auckland, Canterbury (both 18 percent), and Wellington (17 percent) were near the average, while Nelson’s young drivers had the lowest rate of claims at 15 percent.

Hamish Piercy, Fleet Risk Manager for AMI, former New Zealand Police Officer with the serious crash unit, and with over 33 years’ crash investigation experience, is unsurprised that AMI received a high number of claims for drivers under 25.

Piercy says, “There are a lot of great young drivers out there, and some excellent driver education programmes, but these statistics show that we can’t be complacent when it comes to driver safety. It’s an unavoidable fact that to gain experience, you have to drive, so as a society we need to look at how we can enable that in safe ways.”

For a limited period, AMI has partnered with Fleetcoach to offer an online driver education course that eligible AMI young driver customers can complete to qualify for $250 off their vehicle policy excess.

Top tips for keeping young drivers safe

Get experience in all types of conditions and environments – clear weather, rain, wind, rush hour, motorways, urban, and rural. Don’t just practice in an urban area, make sure you get to experience driving on all types of roads.

Always think of others on the road. Be courteous. Lift your gaze and look as far ahead as possible, not just at the tail lights in front of you – that’s how nose-to-tail accidents happen.

Parents, family members, and caregivers – let your young learners drive, even if it’s just for short distances each time. It’s important to help them get time behind the wheel while supervised.

Put your phone away where you can’t see or reach for it. Driver distraction is a leading cause of crashes.

Don’t let passengers determine how you drive. It’s your responsibility as the driver to ensure the safety of yourself, any passengers, and others on the road.

When choosing a car, use the Right Car website and look for technology like ABS, airbags, and pre-tensioning seatbelts. Good visibility is important.