Insurers say drivers under 20 should only be allowed one teenage passenger

Teenagers travelling with friends are three times more likely to have a fatal accident than those travelling alone, insurers have claimed. The Association of British Insurers has published a report today charting the findings and is urging the Government to introduce restrictions on young drivers for six months after they qualify.

The study claims that the greatest danger of distraction is caused 30 weeks after teenagers pass their test. After this period the risk of them causing death or serious injury on the road halves.

The association believes that 270 deaths or serious injuries would be prevented every year if there was a law preventing drivers under 20 from carrying more than one teenager in their car. This would be in place for the first six months after they pass their test.

The report reads: 'Young passengers can both distract young drivers and encourage them to drive in a more risky way. Restricting drivers under 20 to carrying just one teenage passenger for the first six months of driving will allow them to gain experience of carrying passengers before having to deal with the distraction of three or four of their teenage peers in the car.'

The report suggests that the collision rate for young drivers increases with each additional passenger. Compared to driving alone, the risk of a fatal collision for young drivers is 39% higher with just one passenger, 85% higher with two and 182% higher with three or more. The association said a limit on the number of passengers a teenager could carry would reduce their insurance costs.