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How can reckless teenage driving be prevented?

341 replies

UncleColm · 24/08/2026 10:31

We had that terrible crash recently in the UK which resulted in 7 deaths - RIP to the two Police Officers who were on duty.

In Ireland we had a very similar crash the previous week where five boys died - aged 15 to 17. All were wearing balaclavas at the time of the crash and were 'well known' to Guards. The family they crashed into were three sisters and a seven year old son of one of the sisters (on the way to the airport go to a family wedding) - they are all still in hospital and are very seriously injured.

The previous week, in Ireland, a car carrying eight teenage boys aged from as young as 13 crashed into a car being driven in the correct direction by one young man who is now seriously injured.

The boys seem to be from a mix of poor areas and Travellers. In death they are being celebrated by their families but where were these families when they were alive? Who lets their teenage boy out all night? And let's them produce tiktoks of their 'exploits'? Parental supervision is clearly not in place.

How can this reckless driving behaviour be stopped?

In Ireland there is a huge shortage of jail spaces and places to detain a child under 18. These kids couldn't care less if the Guards catch them - sure what's another Juvenile Caution to them? One of the boys who died was supposed to stay in his own County but had ignored it. They have no fear of the Guards or the law.

I work in a school and there is a huge amount of help available to Traveller children in particular but they still tend to not engage with any after school activities, don't do homework, don't go on school trips, leave school early, high absence rate, etc.

I read recently that, in Ireland, 50% of Travellers don't live beyond 39. In 2026 this a shocking statistic. I don't know what the statistics are for the poor, disadvantaged areas but I do know that the taxpayers provide Social Housing, child benefit, medical cards, free education, free school books and hot lunches, back to school allowances and a whole other host of allowances. There are many initiatives available to help people to stay in education and gain independence.

What more can be done? Is there any way of reaching these young males?

OP posts:
ItsPickleRick · 26/08/2026 16:41

brunettemic · 26/08/2026 16:32

Weird that you say men only but then this is MN I suppose, I’d 100% blanket rules across all. There’s a 17/18 girl who lives on the street I drive on to get to ours and she drives like a maniac.

Edited

Statistically, young men are the riskiest drivers. Something like 80% of all young driver fatalities are young males.

It’s nothing to do with it “being MN”.

Itsnotallaboutyoulikeyouthink · 27/08/2026 14:44

There are so many issues around this I don’t think most of us can understand what’s going on. I’m deeply concerned that there was a 17 year old in that car with two men in their early 20s. I’m not excusing anyone but i can’t imagine my 17 year old joyriding with someone 6!years older than them. A 17 and a 23 year old online we would say that 17 year okds been groomed. There is obviously a lot more going on than just joyriding in Middlesbrough that set of a series of events.

for most is us that have teens with pretty simple lives - I have a rule with mine they are not allowed in any of their friends cars and vice versa until that have several years experience.

GasPanic · 27/08/2026 14:54

I think in these days of technology it should be possible for each car to have a cutout that can be police activated.

Most of these cars that are used are stolen anyway. The cutouts can be hidden (like trackers) where they are difficult to find and then activated in the event of a chase.

Of course there will always be people who complain that they don't want police to be able to shut their car down, but I think enough people would do it optionally for it to make a significant difference rather than force the technology on people.

Smokeywater · 27/08/2026 17:15

Put a limit of 75 on all cars ??

ForPlumReader · 27/08/2026 17:34

I'd like to see the age for driving increased. It's unlikely to have made a difference in these cases but generally speaking I think 17 is too young.

JudgeJ · 27/08/2026 19:07

SlappyHap · 25/08/2026 21:01

• Raise the driving age to 21 (obviously this would be very complex)
• Tougher sentences on driving offences. All death by dangerous driving, dangerous driving, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol to be given custodial sentences. No suspended sentences.
• More police patrols/presence.
• All new drivers to have a “black box” by law.
• Any driver caught using their mobile phone to film/take pictures from behind the wheel - automatic 6 month ban.
• All new drivers to complete an in-person dangerous driving course before being able to take a driving test.
• More speed cameras. Higher fines for speeding.
• Police/council to have the authority to clamp cars that belong to drivers who have driving bans/convictions.

All of which would only be effective if everyone obeyed the law but a large majority of the scrotes who are involved on high speed chases etc don't give a damn what the law says, they steal cars or have cars that are untaxed/uninsured. All these changes would do is make life more difficult for the decent members of society.

Maybe the police can be allowed to treat all members of society the same and not go softly softly on some communities because of their cultural flaws.

LillyPeaceFlowerSun · 29/08/2026 15:12

5128gap · 25/08/2026 18:12

More laws restricting driving won't work. Had these boys been prepared to obey laws they wouldn't have been driving stolen cars above the speed limit and in the wrong direction and failing to stop for the police.
We need to make stealing cars more difficult, thumb print recognition to start them, any tampering causing engine lock down. Perhaps even requirements on car owners to keep their vehicle secure.
I'd also put motoring skills and road safety on the national curriculum.

Edited

Actually the laws around passengers in some states in the US does show an impact. Fewer fatalities. For these men it is unlikely to have made a difference as it sounds like it was related to crime. But changing the laws in line with the research on adolescent brain development does reduce accidents and fatalities at the time of life when you are most likely to have a significant accident.

Wowebleywoo · 29/08/2026 15:28

I don't think that it's solely about the driving, it's the criminal element.

I think that kid's that have been involved in serious criminal activity 3 times before the age of 18 should be forced to do at least 2 years of national service in the armed forces.

They need an actual deterrent. Keep them out of prison as they're full and they learn more criminal behaviour. Put them in the army instead once they're 16. And, yes, for younger kids that are persistent offenders...army style borstal.

Somersetbaker · 29/08/2026 15:32

Wowebleywoo · 29/08/2026 15:28

I don't think that it's solely about the driving, it's the criminal element.

I think that kid's that have been involved in serious criminal activity 3 times before the age of 18 should be forced to do at least 2 years of national service in the armed forces.

They need an actual deterrent. Keep them out of prison as they're full and they learn more criminal behaviour. Put them in the army instead once they're 16. And, yes, for younger kids that are persistent offenders...army style borstal.

We have a professional army /navy /airforce, they don't want a lot of criminals with minimal intelligence and education. Let's leave that sort of thing to the Putin, recruiting from prisons hasn't exactly helped his "special operation" has it.

ThePeppyOpalScroller · 29/08/2026 15:59

LadyGAgain · 24/08/2026 10:43

Dash cams non negotiable
under 21 men cannot carry passengers after dark (or at all)
newly qualified drivers are not allowed cars over 1 litre for the first xx years.
as above, no modifications allowed on cars to engine etc until all drivers are over 25.

But they can join the army at 17 and be killing people with machine guns at 20. Risk their lives to defend our country, but but be too irresponsible to take their mum shopping, or pick up their partner from work?

OK. 🙄

Tenofcups · 29/08/2026 21:06

I work with this cohort (dangerous driving teens) and I’d say underneath all the not giving a fuck is an absolute feeling of hopelessness. They have shitty parents, probably witnessed or been victims of abuse, learn from their environment (social media) and generally don’t have any prospects.

Some of the traveller boys I work with didn’t even know about ‘mainstream’ jobs or the process of getting a job (ie CV, interview) and say that no one would hire them anyway due to discrimination. Yes they are dicks, but there is a real lack of opportunity to get out of where you came from. Not saying that specifically about Travellers btw, just poverty crime and addiction in general.

id start by banning Snapchat and censoring TikTok. Also having a hard line on balloon usage as it’s a trend to do this while driving

scalt · 29/08/2026 21:23

Why isn’t Farage telling us the miracles he would perform to make sure this never happens again? After all, he thinks he is the absolute authority of what British perfection looks like.

Rhetorical question: the perps in this case don’t fit his idea of “bad guys”, so he has nothing to say.

brunettemic · 29/08/2026 22:41

ItsPickleRick · 26/08/2026 16:41

Statistically, young men are the riskiest drivers. Something like 80% of all young driver fatalities are young males.

It’s nothing to do with it “being MN”.

So you’ve proved my point about why it shouldn’t be men only with your statistics. I didn’t say it wasn’t mostly men, that wasn’t my point.

Electricsausages · 30/08/2026 15:28

The army doesn’t want/need a bunch of reprobates in their midst

ItsPickleRick · 02/09/2026 11:14

brunettemic · 29/08/2026 22:41

So you’ve proved my point about why it shouldn’t be men only with your statistics. I didn’t say it wasn’t mostly men, that wasn’t my point.

Of course it shouldn’t be “only men”, I was pointing out that your comment about it “this being MN” and implying sexism is ridiculous.

It’s not something we’ve pulled out of thin air to just blame the poor menfolk for. The statistics (and they’re not my statistics) speak for themselves.

GameOfChanceForMe · 02/09/2026 12:31

Dock/ refuse benefits of both parents and adult children. Remove council house. Community service for parents. Hit them in the pocket.

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