They put a “student driver” sign on an instructor’s car for a reason. They know that the student driver is more likely to make a mistake and they want other motorists to be careful around them. It also helps to explain some of these minor errors to the other drivers so they won’t be surprised to see them.
However, simply getting through the class and getting a license does not mean that someone is then a perfect driver. They are still vastly inexperienced and more likely to make a mistake. In fact, studies have found that the six months right after people get a license is when they have the highest crash rates. It’s clear that they’re still learning how to drive, even though that student driver sign is long gone.
The decline in accidents also shows that drivers do get better with time. When you compare the accidents involving drivers who are in the first month of their license with those in their seventh, the crash rate is a full 41% lower. If you go out to two years, it falls by 60% when compared to that very first month.
People never become flawless drivers. They still do make mistakes. You can find someone with 40 years of experience and they can still commit errors. People are not computers and they are unable to drive flawlessly, regardless of skill level, experience or all other factors. But it is also clear that the greatest risk happens right at the beginning.
Have you been injured in an accident with a new driver? If you have, make sure that you know what legal options you have to seek compensation. You shouldn’t have to bear the financial brunt of an inexperienced driver’s mistakes.
