Young drivers speed on motorways

Research found 80 per cent of 17-24 year olds think speed cameras are a waste of time

The vast majority of young drivers speed on motorways with one in ten driving faster than 100mph.

And 60 per cent admit speeding in built-up areas.

Research by Auto Trader also found 80 per cent of 17-24 year olds think speed cameras are a waste of time.

The results follow another Auto Trader survey which found a third of young motorists drink and drive and one in five admitted taking drugs before getting behind the wheel of a car.

Auto Trader spokesperson Jonathan Williams said: “It is shocking young drivers are still speeding so frequently and in high-risk areas such as built-up areas, even though the Government spends thousands of pounds on advertising safe driving messages each year.

“These findings show speed cameras are no longer seen as safety devices by young drivers, but as income generating machines damaging the reputation of the Government and police.”

Young drivers account for more than 40 per cent of road deaths despite holding just one in eight licenses in the UK.

Jools Townsend from safety group Brake said: “These results show a shocking disregard for the law by many young drivers, which frequently ends in death or injury.

“Speed limits are there to protect all road users and breaking them by a small margin can be fatal.”

Auto Trader is raising awareness of the dangers young drivers face.

Celebrities including Michelle Marsh, DJ Tim Westwood and the original Stig Perry McCarthy offer their experiences and advice on Auto Trader’s dedicated website to young drivers ‘Don’t Wreck The Ride’.