Should new drivers be allowed to carry passengers in their cars? The Automobile Association in the UK says no. They advocate that new drivers not be allowed to drive with passengers for at least 6 months after getting their license.
This is part of what is called a graduated driving license: you get more privileges after passing certain milestones. Some U.S. states already do this and so does Canada, Australia and Sweden.
According to AA president Edmund King: “One in five young drivers crash within a year of passing their test. Most people don’t realise, until it is too late, that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults. We owe it to the next generation to introduce positive measures that will help give them healthy and prosperous lives.”
In the U.S., these numbers are similar. Teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are three times more likely to die in a car crash than drivers over 20. You can find a state-by-state breakdown here.
