Young drivers travelling to and from discotheques at night are often involved in serious accidents. What could be important reasons for this?
- Exuberance, high spirits and carelessness
- Driving too fast and taking risks in order to show off
After the driving test
The risk of young drivers being involved in an accident is much higher than that of older drivers. What could be important reasons for this?
- Many young drivers want to test themselves and the performance of their cars. By doing this, many of them are involved in situations they cannot master
- Many young drivers take too many risks and are too thoughtless when driving. They often lack experience in order to assess the risks
- Many young drivers rely too much on the safety of their vehicles
Driving at night to the next discotheque by car, a group of young men and women wants to keep spirits high during the journey. They thus sing exuberantly, laugh and turn up the volume on the car radio. How should the driver of the car react in such a situation?
- The driver responsible for safety must distance himself from the group in such a case and ask his passengers not to divert his attention
What are frequent causes of traffic accidents after a visit to the discotheque?
- Inexperienced young drivers, particularly when driving in the dark
- Young drivers showing off when travelling in groups
- Young drivers lacking experience in driving fully loaded cars
What can result in your qualification to drive being reviewed?
- Frequent violation of traffic regulations
- Permanent physical handicaps which may put the safe driving of motor vehicles into question
What is the current trial (learner) period?
- 6 months
An applicant for a learner permit is caught driving without a licence during this training period. Can this be a reason not to issue a driving licence to him?
- Yes, because this creates doubts about his characters
Building safe habits after your test
Passing a driving test shows that you met the required standard in a particular setting. It does not mean every road, vehicle, or traffic situation will already feel familiar. Treat early drives as continued practice: build confidence through calm decisions rather than trying to prove your skill to passengers or other drivers.
Make each trip manageable
Before setting off, choose your route, allow time for delays, and consider the weather and time of day. Start with familiar roads and quieter conditions when practical, then gradually gain experience on busier roads, at night, and in unfamiliar areas. Do not deliberately seek difficult conditions before you are ready.
Check that your tyres, lights, windows, and mirrors are in suitable condition, and secure anything being carried. Passengers and luggage can change how a vehicle responds, so leave extra room and make steering and braking inputs smoothly.
Keep attention on driving
Set navigation and audio before moving, and keep a phone out of reach so it cannot draw your attention away from the road. Ask passengers to keep conversation calm and help with navigation if needed. The driver remains responsible for choosing a safe speed, following distance, and response to hazards; never let group pressure rush a decision.
Do not drive when alcohol, drugs, tiredness, illness, or medication could affect your judgement or reactions. If you become tired or overwhelmed during a journey, stop at a safe, permitted place and take time to recover before continuing.
Learn from unfamiliar situations
After a challenging drive, identify what was difficult and what you would do differently next time. Practise unfamiliar manoeuvres in a low-risk setting, and seek help from a qualified instructor when you need guidance. Check current local requirements with the relevant authorities rather than relying on advice intended for another country or an older rule set.