In 2006 and 2007, 29 drivers died in car accidents in Singapore.
And nine of them were under the age of 30.
In the last six months, there have been at least five fatal crashes of cars driven by young people.
The toll: Nine killed, all between the ages of 18 and 27.
Four of these accidents, killing seven, happened in less than six weeks.
The most recent accident was on Dunearn Road earlier this month. Three young men died and a fourth was left fighting for his life in Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Experts The New Paper spoke to felt that younger drivers tend to pay less heed to safety.
MORE RECKLESS
Dr Ryan Hong, 34, assistant professor at the National University of Singapore's department of psychology, explained: 'Adolescents and young adults tend to have an exaggerated sense of invulnerability to danger. Sensation-seeking as a personality trait peaks during the teenage years, during young adulthood.
'It is quite possible that youths are more sensation-seeking and thus engage in risk-taking behaviour without much consideration of possible negative consequences.'
Of the 10 drivers The New Paper spoke to, four felt young drivers were more reckless.
According to senior sales executive Jeffrey Goh, 31, who belongs to a car club, it is their lack of experience that is their undoing.
The driver of seven years said: 'If you've never met with accidents before, you won't know how scary it is, and you'll be more daring.'
Another reason Mr Goh gives is that younger drivers tend to have a 'hotter temper'.
The driver of a modified Subaru WRX said: 'We're guys and when we see others challenging us, we won't give up.
'It's very mysterious. When you want to play, there's no family, there's no wife or girlfriend. Your mind goes blank, and your temper goes up. You just want to beat the other car. That's all that matters.'
Engineer Andrew Chin, 28, who has been driving for 10 years, agrees that younger drivers tend to be more adventurous, and so, drive faster.
He says it is not unusual to hit 180kmh on expressways in Malaysia.
But a driving instructor of almost 30years, Mr Bob Sim, feels accidents do not happen because drivers are young, but because drivers 'do not understand how a car functions'.
Mr Sim, 60, said: 'So many drivers read their theory books just to pass the test. Many drivers on the road cannot really control the car. They know only how to drive fast.
'Also, once they pass the test, they don't wear their seat belts, and they don't check the mirrors.'
Mr Sim said theory book and tests should be revised so that students really understand instead of merely memorising the answers.
Automobile Association of Singapore president Bernard Tay cautioned that 'we should not generalise by saying that younger drivers tend to be more reckless', but added that younger drivers 'tend to be a bit more adventurous and may not always keep to the speed limits'.
He said: 'Driving is a skill that one becomes more adept at through experience and practice. Caution and patience are important traits of a driver that will help to keep road accidents at bay and this applies to all motorists and not necessarily the younger drivers.'
Mr Tay said the association will continue to work closely with the authorities to help raise awareness of road safety.
The association advocates safe driving practices through the events it organises, like the yearly Overseas Safe Driving Forums and regular driving trips.
'All drivers need to be educated and reminded constantly about road safety through regular talks and through the mass media,' Mr Tay said.
Mr Shahul Hameed, brother-in-law of Mr Sunthereswaran Nadesan, one of the Dunearn Road crash victims, said: 'Three precious young lives were lost. The accident is an expensive lesson we could do without.
'I don't think the accident was anybody's fault, but I hope people will learn what they need from this - don't speed, and always wear your safety belt.'
The 37-year-old civil servant, who had acted as Mr Sunthereswaran's guardian for the last two years, added: 'Drivers and passengers have a responsibility to be safe to themselves, to their loved ones, and to other road users as well.'
WHAT HAPPENED
Fatal accident 1: Rented Hyundai Avante crashes on Dunearn Road
When: 2.20am, 10 Feb
What happened: Car skids, hits kerb and tree, lands in bushes next to canal.
Victims: Mr Mohammad Khalil and MrSunthereswaran Nadesan Mariyappan, both 23, die on the spot. Driver Jaya Kumar Asokan, 27, dies of injuries in hospital.
Fatal accident 2: Car goes off Old Upper Thomson Road
When: 29 Jan
What happened: Car plunges down slope and slams into trees.
Victims: Student David Li, 18, dies on the spot. His classmate Mervin Teo, 19, dies later in hospital.
Fatal accident 3: Car breaks into two on Mandai Road
When: 19 Jan
What happened: Car mounts kerb and hits tree. Second car, driven by 24-year-old woman, crashes into first car, which breaks into two.
Victim: One front-seat passenger, Kalkieswaran Elangowan, 18, who was said to have been flung out, is killed.
Fatal accident 4: Flung out of car window on AYE
When: 31 Dec last year
What happened: White Honda Civic crashes into expressway divider near Keppel exit.
Victim: Full-time NS man Muhammad Habibullah Mohd Haniffa, 22, friend of the driver, is flung out and dies at the scene.
Fatal accident 5: Car burns on Sixth Avenue
When: 25 Aug last year
What happened: Mazda MX-5 convertible crashes into wall and bursts into flames.
Victim: William Widjaja and Alexander Henry Davies, both 19, killed.
