The Scottish Government

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1. INTRODUCTION

About This Report

1.1 This report sets out findings from qualitative research exploring the views of young people towards road safety. The research focused on young people aged 16 to 25, and what they thought about how to make the roads safer. The Scottish Government commissioned us - ODS Consulting - to undertake this work between June and September 2008. The research findings will help to inform the new Scottish Road Safety Strategy.

Research Context

1.2 The Scottish Government has five Strategic Objectives - one of which is to develop a 'safer and stronger' Scotland. The aim is to help local communities to become stronger and safer places to live, offering improved opportunities and a better quality of life. An important element of this is improving road safety.

1.3 Although road safety has improved in recent years - with a clear reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured - this improvement has not been seen amongst all road users. Amongst young adults, accident rates remain significantly higher than other age groups.

1.4 As Table 1.1 shows, in 2006 young male drivers aged 17 to 22 were most at risk of involvement in a car accident, with 23 to 29 year olds also at considerable risk. Accident rates for young female drivers were also slightly higher than average, but the difference across age groups is not so pronounced for women.

Table 1.1: Car Drivers Involved in Accidents, 2002 to 2006 Average

Source: Scottish Road Accident Statistics 2008, Table 18

1.5 The Scottish Government is currently developing a strategy for improving road safety over the coming ten years. In February 2008 it issued a consultation document (Scottish Government, 2008b) to gather views on future priorities and how these should be addressed. The analysis of the consultation responses was published in July 2008 (Scottish Government, 2008c). The Scottish Government has also set up a Panel of Experts to advise on how to build on good practice and address areas of concern.

1.6 The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland are keen to ensure that the strategy is an evidence informed document. Given the high casualty rates among young people, they also wish to ensure that the views and experiences of young people - and particularly young men - are taken into account. Addressing the high casualty rates in this age group will be essential in improving road safety in Scotland in the future.

1.7 A range of research studies have therefore been commissioned recently to explore the views of young drivers, pre-drivers and non-drivers towards road safety. For example, in 2007 Road Safety Scotland commissioned a study exploring the views of young pre-drivers, to identify attitudes, influences on behaviour, and help with developing advertising and promotional activity (Road Safety Scotland, 2007). The views and experiences of young people have also been explored in wider research on experiences of driving on rural roads (Scottish Government, 2008d), and experiences and attitudes towards drink driving (Scottish Government, 2008e). This research study will contribute to this growing evidence base on young people and road safety.

Research Aims and Objectives

1.8 In June 2008, the Scottish Government commissioned ODS Consulting to hold six focus group discussions with young people. The aim of the research was to explore the views of young people on key road safety issues, including how these issues affect them as passengers, potential drivers and drivers.

1.9 The specific objectives were to:

• gauge what rights and responsibilities young people perceived that they had as road users;
• learn about young people's concerns regarding road safety;
• explore what might motivate young people to be safer road users; and
• find out how much young people were aware of risk on our roads.

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