Breaking down is top of rookies' worry list

THE TOP five fears for young drivers has been revealed.
PET HATES: A survey of young drivers has revealed their top five anxieties.PET HATES: A survey of young drivers has revealed their top five anxieties.
PET HATES: A survey of young drivers has revealed their top five anxieties.

A leading provider of cars and insurance for young drivers, called Marmalade, found 30 per cent of its 450 respondents worry most about breaking down and approaching junctions and roundabouts.

Next up were pet hates about busy traffic and cities, parking manoeuvres and driving in bad weather conditions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This latest research indicates that a lot of anxiety for young drivers is based on their lack of experience.

Marmalade has also found that for many young drivers, having a black box installed in their car can help alleviate some of these anxieties in a practical way, offering reassurance for a novice driver.

Marmalade black box policy customer Mike Haslam, a 21-year-old shop assistant, said: “When I first passed my test I had a few concerns about certain roads and it made driving more stressful that it had to be. Now that I have been driving for a few months I do feel more confident and have a lot less worries than before.

“It’s great having my black box in the car as I do still check my journeys regularly, and after a long trip to Bournemouth, the box flagged that I am most unsafe on roundabouts. As a result I have changed the way I drive, being careful to slow down earlier and not brake as hard. I think practice and experience helps so much in easing worries.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Marmalade’s customer portal enables young drivers to check in on their journeys, helping them improve their skills and see where they really need to improve and where they are driving safely.

Other confidence builders include ensuring that a young person gets lots of practice with their parent before taking their test. This helps novice drivers feel more assured when they pass their test and drive on their own. The full survey results can be found at www.wearemarmalade.co.uk/blog/young-drivers-find-most-scary-about-driving.

BLACK BOX HELPS TRACK PROGRESS

The boss of insurance and car provider Marmalade believes its black box policy is a ‘brilliant safety tool’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chief executive officer Crispin Moger said: “Our latest research amongst our customers helps us understand the concerns of new drivers and means we can ensure we are helping hone their skills, building their confidence and encouraging as much as experience on the road as possible to get them used to driving in lots of different conditions. For those using our black box policy, they always have a way of looking back at their journeys and keeping an eye on their progress – it’s a brilliant safety tool.”

Related topics: