An Australian researcher has discovered that anxious and depressed youngsters with first time car insurance are prone to acting irresponsibly when driving.
Her work has built upon previous studies which revealed that inexperienced motorists are at a significant risk of being involved in accidents.
The new research shows that people who suffer from psychological distress are more likely to break the laws of the road than those who are in excellent mental health.
Just under 800 people eligible for young drivers car insurance completed a questionnaire designed to measure their levels of psychological distress and driving behaviour.
It was found that problems of the mind accounted for 8.5% of the increased dangerous driving behaviour of young adults.
The postgraduate responsible for the study said that she would now attempt to find out whether psychological problems are the primary cause of ill judged motoring behaviour.
"I suspect the distress comes first and the risky driving is just another manifestation of that distress," she commented.
In a piece written for the International Journal of Injury Prevention she points out that novice drivers could be tested for "current psychological distress" and given further driver training and counselling, if so required.
Newly qualified drivers who feel that they don't know enough about the rules of the road may want to enrol on a pass plus course, which may improve their chances of obtaining cheap first time car insurance.