Young drivers face the highest crash risk in the first months after passing their test, when experience is limited and exposure to higher-risk situations increases.

Through a new partnership between Protect Young Drivers and Confused.com, this presentation will explore how insurers could play a much greater role in helping young drivers gain experience more safely.

Many countries address young driver risk through Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL). While GDL continues to be debated in Britain, there is an opportunity to explore additional ways to improve safety in the meantime.

Telematics and black box insurance policies are already widely used to price insurance and monitor behaviour. However, they also have the potential to act as proactive road safety interventions - encouraging gradual exposure to higher-risk driving situations and reinforcing safer driving habits.

The session will explore how insurers, road safety professionals and communications campaigns could work together to better support young drivers during their first months of independent driving.

Jamie Hassall, Executive Director, PACTS

Jamie Hassall is a seasoned road safety professional who brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and contacts to his role at PACTS. He joined PACTS from National Highways where he built up over 20 years of experience.

He was responsible for improving driver compliance on the strategic road network and led trials of new equipment to detect close following, and mobile phone and seatbelt offences.

He has worked closely with the police, DVLA and many other leading stakeholders. Innovative approaches to driver compliance earned him and his team a second Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. He is a civil engineer and vice-chair of the ITS(UK) Enforcement Working Group.

Matthew Creole Rees, General Manager, Motor and Home insurance, Confused.com

Matthew Creole Rees joined Confused.com in 2010, joining the brand’s Marketing team. Since then, Matt has led multiple marketing functions, including Planning, Customer Marketing, and Acquisition and Retention. Matt is now the General Manager for Motor and Home insurance at Confused.com and other brands within the RVU Group, where he oversees the strategy and operations for product innovation and development.

He leads product expertise for young drivers, speaking regularly on issues affecting this group, including driving test changes and insurance premiums, and raising awareness of young and novice driver risks.