The proposal to allow 17-year-olds to drive without an adult supervisor is causing concern for the Road Safety Council (Rådet for Sikker Trafik) in Denmark. According to Deputy Director Karina Petersen, the government’s initiative, which is presented as part of a rural development strategy, may lead to an increase in injuries and fatalities among young drivers. “We fear that there will be more seriously injured and killed 17-year-olds each year,” she stated.

The government’s goal with the proposal is to improve mobility for young people in rural areas, where distances to educational institutions can be significant. However, Petersen warns that the cost, in the form of increased traffic risk, is too high. Until now, 17-year-olds have been allowed to drive under the supervision of an experienced adult driver, and this arrangement has reportedly succeeded in guiding young people through their first year of driving with fewer risks.

Petersen emphasizes that due to their still-developing brains, young people have more difficulty assessing risks and understanding the consequences of their actions, leading to more dangerous driving behaviors. She also draws parallels to past experiences, where lowering the age limit for moped riding from 16 to 15 years resulted in more accidents and serious injuries among youths.

It is the fear of a similar trend on the roads that leads the Road Safety Council to firmly oppose the proposal. “Age and experience are crucial factors,” concludes Petersen.