Black boxs to be fitted to young drivers cars to tackle accidents

Car black box tackles accidents
“Black box recorders” are being fitted to young drivers cars in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents.

The device uses motion sensors to record when drivers brake late, take a corner too fast or swerve.

Warning lights appear in the car and the recorded data is put on a website accessible by drivers’ parents.

The scheme is being piloted in Staffordshire, where drivers aged under 25 are involved in 40% of accidents, but make up just 10% of motorists.

Police figures show 20% of drivers aged under 21 have an accident in their first year on the road.

Adrian Hide, road safety manager at Staffordshire County Council, said the device was not aimed at “boy or girl racers” who he said were in the minority.

“The majority of drivers are ordinary people who go out there, theyve got a car and they are vulnerable because of their inexperience and their age and they’re out there in the vast majority,” he said.

“Now this particular piece of equipment is there to help them.”

Dangerous habits

The council is looking for more volunteer young drivers and their families to take part in the trial.

The scheme begins by establishing the motorist’s driving style and drivers are only able to analyse their performance online after the first month.

Youngsters can then have any dangerous habits coached out of their driving.

Fri, 6 Jun 2008 21:13:51 +0100

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