New drivers ‘should opt for safety features’

New drivers should make sure they keep safety features in mind when buying their first car according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

Neil Greig, IAM director of policy, said: “Cost is a key issue, but opting for the cheapest vehicle can mean cutting safety corners and paying more to run it – newer cars tend to have better safety features and are usually more economic too.”

He added that motorists should look for vehicles with features such as anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, saying that in the current market, five-year-old cars with these can be found for around £3,000.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The safest driver is not necessarily the one with the greatest number of gizmos such as anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, just as the greenest motorist is not always the one who drives the most efficient car. Technology is no substitute for careful and considerate driving and efficiency afforded by a new car is unlikely to better occasionally leaving it at home in favour of the bicycle.”