When looking for new driver car insurance, motorists may be inclined to try to find ways of reducing the cost of their premium as much as possible.
One way in which individuals try to do this is by purchasing an old car as their first vehicle, since insurance may be less expensive – but the director of road safety organisation RoadSafe,, Adrian Walsh, says that this is not necessarily a good idea.
"Older vehicles tend to cost less to insure but this benefit is diminished in the event of a crash, as they lack the safety systems found in newer models," he says.
In 2009 the Department for Transport released data showing that 26% of all road traffic accidents involved individuals with car insurance for young drivers, those between the ages of 17 and 24.
This has prompted RoadSafe to encourage young motorists to buy vehicles with better safety features such as electronic stability control (ESC), which helps a driver keep control of the car in an emergency, for example, having to brake suddenly on a wet road surface.
In November 2011, Road Safety Week will focus on young people and their safety on UK roads.
Any motorist looking for new driver car insurance should attempt to strike a balance between obtaining cheaper insurance, and the safety features of their vehicle. Choosing cover price over car quality could result in a road accident, and severe personal injury to the driver and any passengers on board.