THE organisation responsible for road safety around Worcestershire and further afield has called on young drivers to be extra careful.

Last year 30 per cent of all car crashes in West Mercia and Warwickshire involved a driver aged between 17 and 24. Young drivers are also more likely to passengers, such as their friends who have not yet passed their driving test, meaning these crashes can result in more people getting hurt.

West Mercia and Warwickshire’s Safer Roads Partnership has issued a series of advice on how best to stay safe on the roads including always wearing a seatbelt, even for short journeys, keeping mobile phones turned off and keeping to speed limits.

Drivers should also make sure passengers are not distracting them while also relying on them as an extra set of eyes and ears and never take drugs or drink and drive.

The organisation’s communications manager Anna Higgins said: “Unfortunately young drivers continue to be over-represented in collision figures and causation factors include loss of control, inappropriate or excessive speed and distractions such as mobile phones, loud music and passengers.”

She added passengers have just as much responsibility for road safety as drivers.

“Carrying out simple tasks like making sure you put your seatbelt on every time you get into a vehicle, identifying hazards that the driver may not have noticed, and ensuring you’re not a distraction are all simple steps that can make a huge difference,” she said.

“The important thing for passengers to remember is that you have a right to feel safe in a car.

“If the driver is going too fast or driving erratically and you don’t feel safe, tell them to stop or slow down.

“You could even tell a little white lie to get out of the car and say you feel sick or need the toilet.

“The consequences of a serious collision could stay with you forever."