The insurer, Aviva believes mandatory black box insurance for new drivers could help reduce collisions, encourage safer driving habits and potentially bring down insurance costs for young motorists.

With the cost of getting on the road already a major consideration for new drivers, any change to insurance rules could have significant implications for young motorists, particularly those looking to buy, finance or lease their first car.

What is Aviva proposing?

Aviva has called on the UK Government to consider making telematics insurance a legal requirement for young and newly qualified drivers during their first year of driving.

The proposal is intended to address the higher accident risk associated with motorists who have recently passed their driving test.

According to analysis published by Aviva, around 11% of drivers make a collision-related insurance claim during their first year on the road, compared with approximately 5% of more experienced drivers.

The insurer argues that telematics technology could help close that gap by monitoring driving behaviour and encouraging motorists to develop safer habits from the beginning.

At present, however, black box insurance is not compulsory for new drivers in the UK. Aviva's proposal is a call for the Government to consider changing the rules rather than confirmation that a new law has been introduced.

What is black box insurance?

Black box insurance, also known as telematics car insurance, uses technology to collect information about how a vehicle is being driven.

Depending on the insurer and system being used, telematics can monitor factors including:

• Speed

• Acceleration

• Braking

• Cornering

• When and where the vehicle is driven

• Mileage

• Mobile phone use or distraction

The technology may involve a physical device installed in the vehicle, a plug-in unit or a smartphone-based system.

Insurers can then use this information to assess driving behaviour. Safer driving can sometimes result in lower premiums or other benefits, while drivers can receive feedback designed to help them improve behind the wheel.

Can black boxes make new drivers safer?

Aviva believes they can.

According to the insurer's analysis, collision claims among inexperienced motorists using telematics policies can fall by nearly 50%, compared with a reduction of around 30% for drivers using standard insurance policies.

The technology effectively acts as a digital driving coach, identifying potentially risky behaviour and giving drivers feedback on areas where they could improve.

Aviva says younger motorists' lower telematics scores are commonly associated with behaviours such as sharp acceleration, harsh braking and cornering.

Importantly, the insurer also reports that more than half of drivers who initially receive low driving scores subsequently improve, suggesting that feedback can have a positive impact on driving habits.

Why are young drivers considered higher risk?

Young and inexperienced drivers have historically faced some of the UK's highest car insurance premiums because insurers consider them more likely to be involved in collisions.

Government road safety figures show that motorists aged 17 to 24 account for a relatively small proportion of licence holders but are disproportionately represented in serious road collisions.

Inexperience is one factor, but driving behaviour can also contribute to the increased risk.

Speeding, sudden braking, aggressive acceleration, distraction and poor decision-making can all increase the likelihood of an accident. Telematics gives insurers and drivers themselves, greater visibility of these behaviours.

Would mandatory black box insurance reduce the cost of driving?

Potentially, although there is no guarantee that compulsory telematics would automatically mean cheaper insurance for every new driver.

Insurance premiums are calculated using numerous factors, including a driver's age, location, occupation, vehicle, annual mileage and claims history.

However, telematics policies can give younger motorists an opportunity to demonstrate that they are safer drivers rather than having their premium determined primarily by broader statistics associated with their age and experience.

That could be particularly attractive when choosing a first car, where the cost of insurance can have a major influence on which vehicles are realistically affordable.

What could mandatory telematics mean for electric car drivers?

If the Government eventually introduced mandatory telematics for newly qualified motorists, the rules could apply regardless of whether someone drives a petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric car, depending on how any future legislation was written.

For drivers considering their first EV, insurance therefore remains an important part of calculating the overall cost of motoring.

Monthly lease payments are only one element of the equation. Drivers should also consider insurance, charging costs, maintenance and other running expenses when comparing an electric car with a petrol or diesel alternative.

Telematics could potentially give newly qualified EV drivers another way to demonstrate safer driving behaviour and manage their insurance costs.

Is black box insurance currently mandatory for new drivers?

No. Black box insurance is not currently a legal requirement for newly qualified drivers in the UK.

The latest discussion follows Aviva's recommendation that the Government should consider making telematics policies compulsory during a driver's first year on the road.

That distinction is important. There has been no confirmed change to UK law requiring every new driver to have a black box insurance policy.

Drivers can currently choose between telematics and conventional insurance products, subject to availability and individual insurer requirements.

Do young drivers support compulsory black boxes?

There appears to be a degree of public support for the concept.

Research cited by Aviva suggests a majority of respondents would support mandatory telematics for newly qualified drivers, with support also coming from a notable proportion of younger motorists.

However, compulsory black boxes would inevitably raise questions around privacy, data collection and how driving information is used.

Any Government proposal would therefore need to balance the potential road-safety benefits against concerns around personal data and ensure motorists clearly understand what information is being collected.

Could the Government introduce other restrictions for new drivers?

Mandatory telematics is one of several approaches that could be considered to improve safety among newly qualified motorists.

Another frequently discussed option is a graduated or progressive driving licence system, where new drivers face additional restrictions during an initial period after passing their test.

Different versions of such systems can include restrictions around night-time driving, carrying young passengers or other higher-risk situations.

Aviva has acknowledged that progressive licensing could also help improve road safety but believes telematics could provide an additional way to encourage better driving behaviour.

What happens next?

For now, newly qualified drivers do not need to rush out and purchase a black box policy simply because they have passed their test.

Aviva's intervention adds to the wider debate about how the UK can reduce serious collisions involving inexperienced motorists, but any move towards mandatory telematics would require Government action.

If compulsory black box insurance were introduced, the details would matter, including which drivers were affected, how long telematics would be required, what information could be collected and whether there would be exemptions.

Until then, telematics remains an option rather than a requirement.

For young drivers comparing their first vehicle, however, checking the cost of both conventional and black box insurance before choosing a car could still make sense. Insurance costs can vary substantially between vehicles and may have a major impact on the true monthly cost of getting on the road.