YOUNG motorists constitute nearly one-third of drivers who die in car crashes here.

In 2006, 29 drivers died in accidents and nine of them were under the age of 30.

In the past six months, there have been at least five fatal crashes involving cars driven by young people. The deadly toll: nine killed, all between the ages of 18 and 27.

Traffic Police have reported that 250 of the 1,283 drivers injured in accidents in 2006 - or nearly one in five - were under 30.

Yesterday, State Coroner Victor Yeo said Mr William Widjaja and Mr Alexander Henry Davies, both 19, could have been seeking thrills when their car crashed on Aug 25 last year, killing them both.

He said: 'They could have been in high spirits and may have been enjoying the sensation of high speed, and a momentary distraction could have caused the accident.'

Driving instructor James Wee, 59, told The Straits Times young drivers have a tendency to show off and speed. As they are rather inexperienced, they do not know what to do when the car skids.

He said: 'Many instinctively jam the brakes and lose control of the car totally.

'They should start off slowly, but people slow down only when they grow older.'