Protect Young Drivers and Confused.com have joined forces to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in road safety: helping newly qualified drivers stay safe during their most vulnerable period behind the wheel.

Announced in April 2026, the initiative will combine road safety expertise with consumer insight to provide practical advice, education and tools for young drivers and their parents.

The collaboration is designed to address both behavioural risks and financial pressures, which experts say are closely linked to collision rates among younger motorists.

Seriously stubborn

As we are well aware, the scale of the problem around young driver and their passengers is stark.

 One in five people killed or seriously injured in car collisions is involved in a crash with a young driver, according to recent data.

Young male drivers aged 17 to 24 are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged 25 and over.

In total, an estimated 4,740 people are killed or seriously injured each year in crashes involving young drivers in Britain, including passengers and other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

As is evidenced, the risks are particularly high in the first year after passing a driving test, with one in five drivers involved in a crash within that period.

A spokesperson for Protect Young Drivers said the partnership is about addressing these risks early. “Young drivers face a unique combination of inexperience, independence and external pressures. By working together, we can provide better guidance and support to help them make safer choices from day one,” they said.

Four you

The initiative will focus on raising awareness of the so-called “Fatal Four” factors – speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone – identified by the Department for Transport as the ongoing leading causes of serious collisions.

Confused.com said it hopes to use its reach among young motorists to reinforce safer habits.

Rhydian Jones, the company’s motoring expert, said: “It’s not just about the cost of getting on the road. Helping new drivers build safe habits early could prevent thousands of crashes and make roads safer for everyone.”

Cost remains a major issue.

Young drivers face some of the highest insurance premiums of any age group, with average annual costs for 17–20-year-olds exceeding £1,800.

High costs can influence behaviour, including decisions about vehicle choice, mileage and even insurance fraud, adding further complexity to the safety challenge.

Research also highlights behavioural factors.

Younger drivers are more likely to engage in risk-taking due to inexperience, peer pressure and ongoing brain development, particularly in areas linked to decision-making and impulse control.

Before the event

Campaigners say the partnership reflects a broader shift toward prevention rather than punishment.

By improving education, awareness and support, the aim is to reduce collisions before they happen, rather than relying solely on enforcement.

There are also growing calls for broader reforms, including the introduction of a Graduated Driving Licence (GDL) system, which has been shown internationally to reduce young driver casualties significantly.

Evidence suggests such a system could prevent thousands of injuries annually in the UK.

For now, the focus of the new campaign is practical support, helping young drivers understand risks, build confidence and develop safer habits during the critical early months of independent driving.

Young drivers continue to be disproportionately represented in serious crashes despite years of understanding many of the issues, which has led both organisations to say that collaboration is key.

As one campaign message puts it, passing the driving test is not the end of learning, but the beginning.

Just as the driver needs to keep learning, so do educators and trainers, through collaboration and the pooling of resources, expertise, and understanding.

Find out more here.