New research provided by AXA insurance has identified specific driving habits that cause accidents. The type of driver who exhibits these characteristics has been called the "stop start driver". This driver class is said to be between 17 and 29 with a valid license but drivers infrequently.
As there is a lack of experience this leads to lacking road knowledge (learned through time spent on the road) and low confidence. All of these elements pushed together can cause a heightened probability of accident occurrence. The types of accidents that are caused are quite typical and not only affects this driver but their poor driving causes accidents involving others.
The research shows that after passing the driving test 17% of people between 17 and 29 drive only once or twice a month. It also suggests that many people once passing the test will have driving gaps of several years which increases the lack of current road knowledge. Obviously when these people get back behind the wheel after such a long break they lack initial confidence which take time on the road to build back up.