The work between policy and practice
Road safety progress depends on more than commitments. It requires sustained action, strong partnerships, and accountability to ensure that policies…
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Supporting young drivers to stay safe and become safe road users in the critical early months after they pass their test, whilst they are at disproportionate risk, is a huge challenge, but one which is under-addressed.
This rapid evidence review by Dr Elizabeth Box, Research Director at the RAC Foundation shows that there is a resource that can make a contribution to improving safety if only it was better utilised: parents and guardians.
This rapid evidence review highlights the crucial but underused role of parents and guardians in supporting young drivers. It shows that:
- Parental influence extends well beyond the learner phase into the first years of independent driving.
- Supervision, rule setting, modelling, and vehicle access decisions all shape young driver risk.
- Structured interventions (e.g. parent coaching, telematics) can be effective, especially when combined with licensing frameworks.
The report concludes that investing in parental engagement offers an immediate, evidence-based way to improve safety in Great Britain.
