Young drivers are still the most vulnerable Furthermore, nearly 40 per cent of drivers have a crash by the time they are 23. That's according to Young Drivers at Risk, which is based on the findings of a survey of more than 14,000 drivers in the AA/Populus panel, which is being launched today by Nigel Mansell at the Silverstone Classic racing event. Edmund King, director of the AA, said: "Road safety education must be a life skill that starts at the age of three but is continually refreshed throughout life. It needs to begin many years before someone is old enough to apply for their provisional licence. If teenagers have had interesting and practical road safety education they are less likely to take dangerous risks when they get behind the wheel alone. Road crashes are not only the leading cause of death and injury for young people in the UK, but also across the world. We need safer drivers in safer cars on safer roads, to reduce these preventable deaths in the UK and across the globe. The report has been endorsed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists. Simon Best, IAM chief executive, said: "Young male drivers especially suffer from a deadly combination of overconfidence and inexperience. Post-test training is without doubt the best way to address this. A focus on road safety in the national curriculum is currently non-existent - this needs to change. Driver training for under 17-year olds can be a fun way of introducing young people to safe driving. In order to assist new motorists, the AA is offering 1,000 free driver improvement courses for those who have recently passed their test. Details can be found on the AA website.