Over 23,000 killed or seriously injured in crashes involving 17-24 year-old drivers
Police say more than 23,000 people have died or been seriously hurt in accidents with drivers aged 17 to 24 over the past five years.
Police warn that crashes involving drivers aged 17 to 24 have caused over 23,000 deaths or serious injuries between 2021 and 2025, according to Department for Transport figures. The tally includes 7,500 accidents with a young driver, 4,000 injured passengers and 11,600 other road users such as pedestrians. Young drivers account for about 20% of all fatal or serious road collisions and are disproportionately involved in single-vehicle crashes, which make up nearly a third of their incidents.
Rural roads are twice as hazardous as urban ones for this age group. Authorities are urging parents to keep supervising new drivers through Operation Spotlight, while Northern Ireland will introduce a graduated licensing scheme next month, a measure not yet adopted elsewhere in the UK.
Why it matters
Young driver crashes cause thousands of deaths and injuries, highlighting a major road-safety challenge.
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