One of the UK's largest insurers is urging the UK Government to consider making black box insurance compulsory for young drivers during their first year on the road. Aviva said telematics policies could help improve driving standards, reduce serious collisions and potentially lower insurance costs for newly qualified motorists.
The call comes after new data from the insurer found inexperienced drivers are more than twice as likely to make an insurance claim during their first year of driving compared with motorists who have been behind the wheel for longer. According to Aviva, 11 per cent of new drivers make a collision claim in their first year, compared with 5 per cent of more experienced motorists.
Telematics as a Virtual Coach
The insurer said telematics policies, which use technology to monitor driving behaviour, can help new drivers improve their skills more quickly by providing personalised feedback and insights. Data from Aviva suggests collision claims among inexperienced drivers with telematics policies fall by almost 50 per cent, compared with a reduction of almost 30% among those with standard motor insurance policies.
Owen Morris, chief executive of UK personal lines at Aviva, said: “Sadly, too many people are seriously injured or killed on our roads every year through driving inexperience and poorer driving behaviours involving young drivers. While numbers have fallen, that number is still too high, leaving families devastated at the loss of loved ones. Action needs to be taken to make our roads safer, not just for young drivers, but also vulnerable road users and other motorists who may be involved in accidents where a younger person is driving.”
He added: “The data shows there is an increased likelihood of accidents in the early stages of driving and telematics policies can help support new drivers in their highest-risk period. By monitoring when, where and how people are driving, telematics can act as a ‘virtual coach’, providing advice on improving riskier behaviours, incentivising safer driving and helping to reduce premiums. While other measures, such as progressive licences, could improve driving in inexperienced motorists, we'd encourage the UK Government to consider making telematics policies a legal requirement for young people during their first year of driving.”
Statistics Highlighting the Risk
According to Department for Transport figures, drivers aged between 17 and 24 account for just 7 per cent of UK licence holders but are disproportionately involved in serious and fatal collisions. UK Government data shows one in seven car driver fatalities in 2024 involved a young driver aged between 17 and 24. Meanwhile, 4,740 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions involving a young driver during the year, accounting for around one-fifth of all such casualties.
Aviva also highlighted evidence suggesting younger motorists are more likely to engage in risky driving behaviours, including speeding, aggressive driving and travelling too fast for road conditions. The insurer's telematics data found that harsh acceleration, braking and cornering were responsible for around 70 per cent of the poorest driving behaviour scores recorded by customers. However, more than half of drivers who initially received the lowest ratings improved their driving and did not receive another poor score after being given personalised feedback.
Public Support for Mandatory Black Box Insurance
A separate survey of more than 2,200 motorists found strong support for telematics policies. Around 73 per cent of drivers said they believe black box insurance should be mandatory for young drivers, while 60 per cent of motorists aged 17 to 24 agreed with the proposal.
Black box insurance policies typically monitor factors such as speed, braking, acceleration, cornering and mobile phone use while driving. Insurers use the information to assess driving behaviour and may offer lower premiums or rewards to motorists who demonstrate safe driving habits.
