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It is to be expected that the so-called Driving Licence Revolution
will have a positive road safety effect. SWOV agrees with the general
line of proposals and is pleased that its research and advice have led
to this result.
SWOV had proposed earlier to raise the minimum moped age to 18 years.
As is mentioned in the letter to Parliament, estimates indicate that 18
is the age limit which saves the highest number of lives (more than 45
a year).
However, whether 17 or 18 years is chosen, it is a revolutionary plan
that proposes a fundamentally new approach to the driving course and the
preparation for the driving licence. It is expected to result in considerably
fewer road crash casualties.
Background
In order to reduce the number of casualties especially among the younger
road users, the Ministry of Transport, together with the Ministry of Justice,
presented the plan for the so-called Driving licence Revolution (also
known as 'Plan 17') to Parliament on January 9th 2004. The measures that
both Ministries want to take are:
- Make study of the driving lessons from 17 years onwards with accompanied
driving
- Experiment with obligatory training after passing the driving test
- Raise the minimum moped age from 16 to 17 years
- Introduce a vehicle registration number for mopeds and light-mopeds
- Theory exam for driving a car with 3 or 4 wheels and a moped engine
Apart from these road safety measures, the Driving licence Revolution
contains a number of measures to improve the service around the driving
licence.
Below SWOV will discuss a number of elements in Plan 17.
Raising minimum moped and light-moped age from 16 to 17 years
Young road users miss traffic insight, overestimate their skills and underestimate
the dangers of traffic. With a (light-) moped it is possible to accelerate
to a high speed, but it is not possible to bring the vehicle safety to
the same level as, for example, a car. This combination of two factors
(safety and behaviour) among young (light-) mopedists leads to a very
large chance of being involved in a crash. The proposal to raise the minimum
age to 17 years has by far the most effect. SWOV estimates this effect
at approximately 20 deaths a year,
The effect can be increased further by combining this measure with introducing
a vehicle registration number and, to a lesser extent, by broadening the
driving course, in which the danger recognition, traffic insight, and
traffic behaviour are tested.
SWOV has had a survey carried out into public support for the age increase
for (light-) mopedists. Based on the results, we expect that the majority
of the young will support the measure providing that the relation between
the measure and the prevention of crashes is properly explained. Parents'
support will be extensive, and the opinions of social groups are also
known after the discussion of the driving licence revolution in the Road
Safety Consultancy Organization.
Driving lessons from 17 years onwards/Accompanied driving
Accompanied driving can give step-by-step traffic experience to novice
drivers. The experience is positive in countries such as Sweden, France,
and Great Britain. Although the traffic situations in these countries
are not completely comparable with the Netherlands, SWOV expects positive
effects of such a system. The possibility of having your first driving
lesson at the age of17, and gaining experience by accompanied driving,
is an important contribution to improving the driving course.
SWOV had earlier proposed to impose certain limitations on novice drivers
(apart from a lower alcohol limit, also a prohibition to drive at night
or with passengers) as is normal in some other countries (United States
and Canada). The underlying idea here is that one should not allow novice
drivers to drive in dangerous circumstances. It is a pity that these effective
measures are not part of the Driving Licence Revolution.
Vehicle registration number for mopeds and light mopeds
A vehicle registration number is an important prerequisite for better
enforcement of legislation of, among others, tuning up. This can save
approximately 5 deaths a year. Improving the driving course and equalizing
the driving speeds are to be recommended, but are only expected to have
a marginal effect.
Driving licence system
As various initiatives have now been taken (accompanied driving, novice
driving licence), SWOV argues for a re-examination of the whole driving
licence system. There is convincing scientific proof abroad of the effectiveness
of the graduated driving licence. SWOV argues for the introduction of
a graduated driving licence in addition to the current plan.
Conclusion
SWOV estimates that the measures in the Driving Licence Revolution that
are especially concerned with young mopedists and light-mopedists, will
result in saving approximately 25 deaths a year. If only adults ('Plan
18') were allowed to ride a moped or light-moped, we estimate a saving
of more than 45 deaths a year.
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