Over half of young passengers 'put lives at risk'

Posted :18-04-2007

Passengers aged 15 to 25 years old are putting their lives at risk by getting into a car with a speeding driver, new research claims.

According to Co-operative Insurance, 65 per cent of young people questioned admitted to being in the passenger seat - also known as riding shotgun - when the driver broke the speed limit.

However, some 58 per cent of these said they had not asked the person behind the wheel to slow down, meaning they could potentially be heightening their chances of a crash or injury.

"Too many young people are risking their lives by allowing themselves to be a passenger in a vehicle where the driver is prepared to exceed the speed limit," said David Neave, the company's director of general insurance.

"More needs to be done to educate young drivers on the horrific consequences speeding can have on people's lives," he added.

Aside from the potential hazard of a car accident, speeding has a number of legal consequences.

Depending on their speed, drivers caught travelling above the limit can face a maximum fine of £1,000 - or £2,500 if caught on a motorway - in addition to a possible ban and between three and six penalty points.


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