After surveying no less than 6,500 young Europeans living in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain last month, Ford has concluded that young UK drivers are most likely to be distracted by attractive pedestrians, with men three times as likely to do so than women.

In Europe, these 18 to 24-year-olds account for 21 percent of all fatalities on the road during the summer, which is when two thirds of young people are more relaxed with their driving.

According to a report by the European Road Safety Observatory, poor reading of the road, impairment from substances, stress and distraction are among the most common factors that lead to accidents when it comes to young drivers.

Thanks to their own survey, Ford have also found out that 57 percent of young drivers have exceeded speed limits, 43 percent have sent a text while driving, 36 percet have taken calls and sent instant messages, 16 percent have driven without wearing their seatbelts, 13 percent have driven after drinking and 11 percent have even watched videos or TV shows on their mobile devices.

This is where Ford’s “Driving Skills for Life” or DSFL program comes in. By the end of the year, it will have trained more than 20,000 drivers across 13 European countries.

“Summer is a great time to enjoy the freedom of driving, which is as much a part of being young today as it was for previous generations. But too many young adults are dying in car crashes caused by a combination of inexperience and poor decision making,” said Jim Graham, Ford DSFL manager.

On the lighter note, Ford have also gone and created a new spoof video called “Blown Ups”, based on 57 percent of young drivers admitting they drive more safely with parents or grandparents in the car. The fictional “product” is simply an inflatable grownup that comes into play when young drivers are reckless behind the wheel.

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