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Road traffic accidents are the number one killer of people in their teens and twenties in the UK.  Research shows that young drivers are as much as ten times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a road traffic accident when compared to motorists in their forties. Here are some useful hints and tips for young drivers:
Driving Safety
It goes without saying that the best way to keep yourself and you passengers safe is to drive safely and responsibly at all times. Young drivers are much more likely to succumb to peer pressure to drive at excessive speeds or perform risky manoeuvres. Never feel pressurised into driving dangerously or in a way you are uncomfortable with.

Younger drivers are often known to squeeze as many friends as possible into their cars. This is extremely dangerous as it distracts the driver, overloads the car and most importantly means there is not a seatbelt for each passenger. Always refuse to take more passengers than you can safely carry and ask your passengers to quiet down if they become distracting.

It is also worth noting that whilst young or new drivers tend to have faster responses and good vehicle control (due to the recent driving lessons), they do not possess the knowledge or experience of older drivers. You should take extra care when driving in poor weather and at night, as new drivers often lack experience in dealing with these adverse conditions. 
Drive like you own the car, not the road! 
Passing your test is an exciting time but don’t let it go to your head. Some young drivers become cocky and insist on racing around like they own the road. Always consider other road users and pedestrians and don’t drive in a way which is dangerous or disrespectful to others.
Penalty Points
Driving dangerously can not only put you and your passengers at risk; it can also lead you the loss of your licence. If you gain six or more penalty points within two years of passing your test you will have you licence revoked and will have to take your driving test again. You can get penalty points for a variety of offences, including speeding, running a red light, careless driving, driving without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.  A single offence ranges between 3 and 10 points depending on the severity, so even one mistake could put you back to square one.
Speeding
Excess speed is one of the primary causes of new driver accidents. Driving too fast is dangerous because it greatly increases your stopping time, meaning you cannot react as quickly to changes on the road. Always obey speed limits – they are there for a reason. Driving recklessly puts you, your passengers, pedestrians and other road users in danger, and could result in the loss of your licence.  
Alcohol and Drugs
Never ever drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Even legal drugs such as cough medicines can make you drowsy and slow your responses. Not only is driving under the influence incredibly dangerous, it is also illegal and can result in the loss of your licence. Whilst you can have a small amount of alcohol and still legally drive, any amount of alcohol reduces your ability to drive safely and us such the best policy is to not drink at all. It is also advisable to avoid giving lifts to anyone who has been drinking as this can often be distracting and dangerous.
Insurance
Insurance can be very expensive for young drivers, especially males. This is because of the risk involved in covering you against any accidents. Statistically you are most at risk of having an accident in the two years after you pass your test, in fact one in five newly qualified drivers crash within a year. As such the insurance premiums for young newly qualified drivers are higher. The only way to bring your premium down is to drive safely and responsibly. The longer you can drive without cause to claim on your insurance, the more no claims bonus you will build up.  With several years no claims bonus you can reduce your insurance premium by over 50%.

It is also worth taking an advanced driving course such as the Pass Plus scheme; this will bring down your insurance premium as well as making you safer on the roads.