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"If you're good enough you're old enough" is a line that I have heard many times in the world of sport - the consensus is that if you have the ability, you shouldn't be held back from doing something just because of your age.
The same could be said for driving. If you're good enough to pass your test, you should be treated the same way irrespective of whether you are 18 or 80. However, research from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) shows a different view. More than three in four people believe there should be restrictions on young drivers after they pass their test.
Some propose that learners should have a minimum 12 months of lessons whilst others would like to see a restriction on the number of young passengers that newly qualified young drivers are allowed to carry.
Statistically, these people are right and it's hard to disagree - young drivers are the most likely to be involved in accidents. While the lessons that they have had should still be fresh in their minds, they lack experience having never dealt with many of the challenges that the roads can throw at them.
To be pedantic, I would also argue that it shouldn't just be the youngest that are targeted; it should be anyone that just passed their test. I know that some young drivers don't always have the right attitude, but that can be the case with older drivers too, and sweeping generalisations can be dangerous in this instance.
While if we are looking to address motorists weaknesses on a generalised basis, another angle to consider is that of refreshing knowledge. Many older drivers are so many years from their test that they have not only picked up bad habits but probably forgotten much of what they learnt. They have the experience, but do they need a refresher in driving best practises for modern roads?
The most responsible businesses will put their drivers through some kind of training and education, but not all. And this still misses a large cross section of motorists who don't have to drive for their job. So, it's perfectly sensible to address drivers based on their strengths and weaknesses, but that really should be the case across the board rather than singling out one group.
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