Once again, the annual one-day Young Driver Focus conference, held in the heart of London at the prestigious RAC Club, proved to be an enriching, informative, and impressive event.

Emerging from Young Driver Focus 25, held in May, is the conference report, summarising the main topic, ideas, and discussions that took place.

It underscores the urgent need for multifaceted action to improve road safety among young drivers.

Engaging stakeholders

Hosted by FirstCar, Road Safety GB, and the RAC Foundation, and supported by major safety partners—including DVSA, PACTS, RoSPA, Road Safety Scotland, THINK! and GEM Motoring Assist, the event drew road safety officers, driving instructors, educators, insurers, and policy-makers aiming to curb Britain’s persistently high casualty rates among 17–25‑year‑olds. 

The programme kicked off with a keynote from Loveday Ryder, CEO of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), who provided an update on national efforts to elevate driving standards.

While driving test waiting times remain at record levels following the COVID lockdown, the DVSA has been introducing numerous policies to encourage more effective learning and preparation for the driving test.

In addition to improving attitudes and safety behind the wheel, it is also believed that encouraging better test readiness will enhance pass rates and help reduce test waiting times.

The ‘Ready To Pass’ appears to be making a difference, with over 85% of learners now agreeing that their driving instructor should decide when they are ready to apply for their driving test.

Loveday acknowledges that new technology has a significant role to play in enhancing road safety and the learning-to-drive experience, as well as fostering ongoing collaborations among all stakeholders in the young driver market.

Laura Butterfield of the Department for Transport then shared the latest THINK! campaign’s drive to influence young driver behaviour—highlighting ongoing campaigns targeting post‑test risk. 

The core issues remain – over-confidence, distraction, poor attitude, speeding and drink-drug driving.

It is essential to maximise the use of social media and harness the power of online influence amongst young people. 

Relate and review

Understanding young driver attitudes and using this knowledge to influence them positively is key, according to Nicholas Lyes, Policy and Standards Director at IAM Roadsmart.

Speeding, driver impairment and mobile phone use by young drivers remain the key issues.

However, for young drivers, the cost of learning, owning, and running a car, including insurance, has a significant impact on their attitudes towards getting behind the wheel and the way they learn.

Driving in adverse weather conditions, on high-speed motorways, and with heavy traffic are their key worries behind the wheel.

Graduated Driver Licensing coul well play an improtant role in improving stadards and attitudes, as well as reducing insurance costs for young drivers.

GDL was the central topic of Wendy Robertson’s presentation. 

Wendy presented New Zealand’s experience with Graduated Driver Licensing, highlighting both its impact on reducing crashes and the equity gaps that must be addressed.

The cost for learners has proven to be a key issue, as well as some restrictions affecting education and job opportunities.

Plugging into learning

Technology plays an ever-important role in our lives, not least in driving.

These must be addressed to improve road and driver safety for the young and old.

While Alan Gentle from Vesos Solutions explained the development of emergency e-Call in an increasing number of new cars, allowing for faster emergency service response in the event of crashes, Tom Legget from Thatcham Research emphasised the importance of in-car safety technologies in keeping us all safe.

However, there needs to be a greater education of the public and drivers to understand and better utilise these potentially life-saving additions to car design.

Again, technology, this time in the form of Virtual Reality training systems, could have a significant impact on improving driving standards and attitudes, not least in helping the estimated eight million drivers in the UK who avoid motorways because they are scared of them. 

Professor Davis Crundal of Esitu Solutions believes VR can help train and raise confidence levels before even getting behind the wheel and facing what many find to be very real challenges on the road.

Meanwhile, Michael Miley, UK Director of Safe Roads Challenge, believes ‘gamification’ of driver training and road safety training is an essential way of engaging young drivers and incentivising them to improve.

It is proven to work in many other areas of learning, and he believes it can be a real ‘game-changer’ for young drivers.

The foundations

While the world is constantly changing, there are key areas of concern and help that remain unchanged.

Dr Michelle Doumen from the Netherlands discussed the Dutch system of learning to drive, which is currently being revised to incorporate more advanced skills – better driver attitudes, self-analysis, and improvement skills. 

However, perhaps the most significant influence on young drivers is the parents and guardians, according to Dr Liz Box, Research Director at the RAC Foundation.

From the early days of young children, they learn by watching their parents, so parents need to walk the talk – they need to act as they want their children to act when they reach driving age.

Attitudes to driving, the law and road safety are all influenced by parental behaviours witnessed from a very young age as passengers.

Parents and guardians also play an essential role in encouraging better learning, independent driving, and gaining experience under supervision at the crucial stage of learning to drive.

Closing Call-to-Action

In a stirring conclusion, Paul Steinberg of the Road Safety Trust warned against reactive policy-making driven by “grief after tragedy”. Instead, he urged proactive courage—echoing parallels with public-health campaigns for HIV and COVID—emphasising the harm of delay. 

“Progress is too often catalysed by heartbreak… Prevention demands courage… to make hard, unpopular decisions before the headlines force our hand.” 

Ruth Purdie (Road Safety Trust) described Steinberg’s address as a “powerful, heartfelt and timely message” about the moral imperative to act before tragedy strikes. 

Now in its second decade, YDF remains the UK’s flagship event dedicated exclusively to young driver safety, uniquely blending rigorous research with diverse stakeholder perspectives.

The YDF 25 report cements its role as a guiding platform for immediate, life-saving interventions on British roads.

As casualties remain stubbornly higher in the 17–24 age group—four times that of drivers over 25—the call to action is clear: delay further is unacceptable.

The wheels of change, powered by new data, technology and collective will, are in motion.

Read the report here.