A new survey has clearly shown some of the reckless behaviour undertaken by young male drivers on Irish roads.

The survey of 1,500 drivers by researchers at NUI Galway found that at least 20% of male drivers under the age of 25 have raced another driver on a public road at some stage in the past.

Young male drivers are also more likely to use their mobile phone while driving and to speed, the survey found.

According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), between 1997 and 2009, over 5,600 road users between the ages of 17 and 24 were killed or seriously injured on Irish roads. Younger drivers are among the ‘highest risk road users on our roads', the authority insisted.

"Research tells us that this group of road users are three times more likely to be killed on the roads than any other road user. In fact, 5,678 young road users were killed or seriously injured on Irish roads in the period 1997 to 2009. This is roughly the same as the population of Westport in Mayo," commented RSA chief executive, Noel Brett.

The Galway research indicated that young people were more likely to drive in a risky manner if their friends and family had a ‘pro-speeding attitude', if they succumbed more easily to road rage and if they believed they could control their car even in challenging conditions.

Young male drivers were also more likely to be reckless if they viewed their car as being a core part of them.

"This research helps us to understand the psychology of young male drivers and can inform the way we respond to risky and reckless driving. The research would suggest that addressing speeding attitudes is important, but that deeper psychological factors are also linked to dangerous driving on our roads," commented lead researcher, Dr Kiran Sarma.