Our Speakers

Nicholas Lyes
Director of Policy and Standards, IAM RoadSmart

Engaging younger people in road safety – where are the problems and what might be the solutions?

Following extensive research by IAM RoadSmart, Nicholas will present key findings and work through some of the most challenging questions facing our audience, including:

  • What are the main issues with younger drivers?

  • How are insurance costs causing problems?

  • Where do younger drivers sit in terms of criminality (insurance and dangerous driving)?

  • Are young people engaged with practical solutions?

  • How to engage in practical learning terms for younger drivers.

Nicholas Lyes is Policy and Standards Director at IAM RoadSmart, overseeing research and communications. Previously head of roads policy at the RAC, Nick has carried out lots of research into the behaviours of drivers and has more than 10 years experience within roads and driving policy.

Dr Elizabeth Box
Research Director, RAC Foundation

Guiding the way: The role of parents and guardians in young driver safety

This presentation explores the role parents and guardians play in shaping safe driving behaviours among young drivers. Drawing on research and successful international models, Elizabeth will highlight effective strategies that empower parents to support safer driving, while also cautioning against approaches that may undermine these efforts. By providing a clear framework and practical examples, this session sets the stage for a panel discussion on maximising parental involvement to support young driver safety.

Five take outs from this session:

  • How parental involvement influences young driver behaviour

  • Evidence-based strategies that help parents support safe driving habits

  • Successful international examples of parental involvement in young driver safety

  • Identifying actions that may unintentionally impact safe driving habits and ways to mitigate them

  • A practical framework to help parents effectively encourage responsible driving behaviours

Dr Elizabeth Box is an accomplished transport researcher with over two decades of experience. She has an excellent track record in influencing and contributing to road safety policy outcomes at the national level. Elizabeth has a doctorate in Transport Psychology and is experienced in developing, delivering and evaluating road safety interventions.

Dr Nick Reed
Founder, Reed Mobility

Vehicle technology for the new driver

The latest technologies tend to be fitted to the newest and most expensive vehicles. However, these systems gradually filter through to more everyday cars and ultimately onto the specification sheets of the sorts of cars that are typically bought as first cars by young drivers. In this presentation, Nick will talk about some of the history of vehicle safety regulation, the benefits and challenges of driver assistance systems and give some examples of vehicles that could be considered as first cars by young drivers and that are equipped with safety technology that could prevent tragic crashes.

Dr Nick Reed is the founder of Reed Mobility, an independent future mobility research consultancy aiming to deliver transport systems that are safe, clean, efficient, ethical and equitable. In 2021, he was recruited to a three-year part-time role as National Highways' first ever Chief Road Safety Adviser.