Mid- and West Jutland is the police district in the country with the most charges against new 17-year-old drivers.

Among the charges, speeding is the most common, but a lack of experience could be part of the explanation, says a driving instructor.

The Midt- og Vestjylland Police District is not calling 17-year-olds irresponsible, even though it has the highest number of charges against young drivers in the country. (Photo: © Sebastian Elias Uth, Ritzau Scanpix) 20 minutes ago

There is a lot to pay attention to when you are 17 and a new driver on the road. Speed limits, right turns, roadworks, roundabouts, and much more.

Since 1 July 2025, 17-year-olds with a valid driver’s license have been allowed to drive alone between 5 AM and 8 PM.

Since then, 2,397 charges have been filed against 17-year-old drivers, and 1,270 of them concern speeding violations, according to Alm. Brand Forsikring A/S.

At the same time, the Midt- og Vestjylland Police District is the district in the country with the most charges against 17-year-old drivers. A total of 293 charges have been registered in the district.

And it is indeed tempting to press down a little harder on the accelerator, acknowledges 17-year-old Frida Nyberg Thorbjørnsen, who is currently taking her driver’s license in Viborg.

"I know that some of my friends drive a bit too fast, but generally it's something we think about. It's stupid to lose your license when you've just got it."

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More experience can make the difference

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Allan Berg, driving instructor and owner of the Route 36 driving school in Viborg, does not believe the young people are irresponsible. He simply thinks the 17-year-olds need more experience.

"Maybe we should consider whether 17 is too late to get a driver's license. Whether you should actually get it much earlier and then gain more experience with your parents. I think that could change a lot."

A 17-year-old driver with a valid license may drive alone between 5 AM and 8 PM. Between 8 PM and 5 AM, a passenger must be in the seat beside them who is at least 24 years old and has held a driver's license for at least 5 years. Source: The Danish Road Safety Council (Photo: © Martin Sylvest, Ritzau Scanpix)

Peter Kirkegaard, deputy police inspector at the Midt- og Vestjylland Police, also does not believe it is because the young drivers in Midt- og Vestjylland are worse drivers than anyone else. He thinks part of the explanation lies in geography.

"We are a large police district. We have 19 percent of the entire country's road network, so we also have many young people driving on the roads. That could also be part of the explanation. I would not call the young people irresponsible."

Nevertheless, the deputy police inspector has a clear message for young drivers.

"We can appeal to common sense. Drive properly, drive according to the conditions, don't drink, and don't sit with your phone in your hand. These are all major accident factors," says Peter Kirkegaard.

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