The Young and the Slow Face Off on the Road

Drivers young and old have each other in their crosshairs on Australia's roads and are trading accusations of hazardous driving, according to independent research (1) from leading national motor and home insurer AAMI.

Both groups consistently identified each other as being the most hazardous in AAMI?s research, highlighting how differing behaviours behind the wheel can often lead to dangerous, and sometimes confrontational, situations in traffic.

“With young drivers - by their own admission (2) - more prone to speeding than others, they are likely to view slower vehicles, often driven by older drivers, as potential road hazards. Correspondingly, older drivers identify the aggressive driving style of some of the younger road users, particularly P-platers, as a major risk,” said AAMI spokesperson Yves Noldus.

Not surprisingly, both groups are convinced they are not a major hazard on the road, with young drivers ranking themselves as "better than average", and drivers over 55 considering themselves the least hazardous.

--Key Findings--

7-in-10 drivers under 25 (69%) identify older drivers as hazardous on the road

Nearly 6-in-10 drivers over 55 (56%) identify young drivers as hazardous on the road

Drivers under 25 identify older drivers as the most hazardous group on the road

Drivers over 55 identify P-platers and young drivers in general as the two most hazardous groups on the road

The suspicion that speed is a major factor in perceptions about hazardous road behaviours seems to be confirmed by research findings relating to L-platers, another drivers group commonly associated with slower travelling vehicles. Remarkably, the AAMI study found that drivers under 25 are more critical of L-platers than older age groups are, with one-third (32%) saying L-platers are hazardous on the road.

“Somewhere between handing in their L's and getting their P's, young drivers seem to turn from villain to hero in their own minds, but from inconvenience to hazard in the minds of more experienced drivers,” Mr Noldus said.

“AAMI's research indicates various driver groups think and act differently. However, all drivers should remember the road is there to be shared. We urge motorists to remain aware of the speed of their vehicle and ensure they are able to deal with slower vehicles and unexpected manoeuvres at all times,” he concluded.

As an extra precaution, making sure you have the right third party insurance can offer peace of mind if and when an accident occurs.

--REFERENCES--

(1) AAMI’s research is based on an independent telephone and internet survey of 2523 Australians, conducted by Sweeney Research across all states and territories. Collected data is carefully weighted in line with current ABS population demographics to ensure any extrapolation of results is representative of age, gender and population on a regional, state and national basis.

(2) AAMI’s 2009 Young Drivers Index: One in six drivers 25 and younger admitted to speeding most of the time vs. one in 40 for drivers 55 and over.

--CONTACT DETAILS--
For more information, contact:
Yves Noldus, AAMI Spokesperson,
Phone +61 (2) 8925 9721

--ABOUT AAMI--
AAMI is a leading insurance company that offers car insurance, home, travel, small business and compulsory third party (CTP) insurance. AAMI prides itself on being easy-to-contact and offering great customer service. Established in 1970, today AAMI has more than 2.5 million policyholders and millions of incoming telephone calls annually.

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