Study identifies the nine riskiest roads for young drivers across Cornwall and Devon
The figures have been revealed as Community Speed Watch teams are given extra power to fine and report drivers
A new study has identified the nine riskiest roads for young drivers in Cornwall and Devon.
Figures released by the AA Charitable Trust show the A388 from Launceston to Holsworthy was the only road rated 'high-risk in the south-west.
There were 17 collisions on that route between 2013 and 2018, nine of which involved young drivers.
It comes as Community Speed Watch teams across the region are given more power, to allow the groups to issue on-the-spot fines and report drivers who are caught breaking the law.
Up until now the teams, which are made up of concerned volunteer citizens, have not been able to enforce the law when they catch speeding drivers.
Instead, motorists were getting a warning letter from the police.
Now the region's Alliance Roads Policing Team is changing that by embedding qualified speed detection officers into the groups, giving them greater power to fine and report any law-breaking drivers.
What are the riskiest roads in Cornwall and Devon?
According to the study by the AA Charitable Trust, Cornwall is home to the only high-risk road in the south-west.
The A388 from Launceston to Holsworthy saw 17 collisions between 2013 and 2018. Nine of those involved young drivers.
The medium-high risk roads in Cornwall named in the study are:
A391 - St Austell to A30 at Bodmin
A389 - Bodmin to A39 at Wadebridge
A3059 - Newquay (St Columb Minor) to A39 (Trekenning Roundabout)
A3058 - Newquay to St Austell
A3075 - A30 (Chiverton Cross) to Newquay (Trevemper Roundabout)
A3083 - Helston to The Lizard
In Devon, the medium-risk roads for young drivers are the A358 and the A3072.
Supt Adrian Leisk, Alliance strategic lead for roads policing, said: "We know young drivers are at greater risk of being involved in serious collisions, the impact of which can be devastating for them, their families and loved ones.
"While driver education is vital to improving the safety of young road users, enforcement has also proven to be a very effective deterrent.
"Community Speed Watch teams across Devon and Cornwall assist us heavily in highlighting issues and drivers of concern. We intend to significantly increase the number of active teams in the region, as well as the level of support they receive, over the next 12 months.
"We also plan to deploy Speed Detection Officers within Community Speed Watch teams so those groups which will give us greater reach to issue on-the-spot fines and report drivers who are caught breaking the law".
Superintendent Adrian Leisk
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is the national lead for road safety with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) and chairs the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership.
She said: "Sadly young drivers are over-represented in fatal and serious collisions which is why Vision Zero South West considers them a priority when it comes to vulnerable road users.
"We all know how exciting it is when you first pass your driving test and gain all that extra freedom, particularly in a part of the country like the South West.
"Education is vital with young drivers. Making sure they know the potential risks of things like passenger distraction, night driving or using mobile phones while driving is so important and will ultimately ensure our roads are safer in the future.
"Our vision is to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on Devon and Cornwall's roads to zero by 2040, and to cut the numbers to 50% by 2030. We can only do this by engaging young people".
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez
You can read more about the work of Vision Zero South West road safety partnership here.