How can reckless teenage driving be prevented?

[UncleColm]

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?

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”.

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.

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.

Put a limit of 75 on all cars ??

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.

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.