Driver and rider error are to blame for the top three causes of serious accidents shows a recent study by The Institute of Advanced Motorists.

The road safety charity presented the analysis of five years worth of accident data - recorded by the police between 2005 and 2009.

Factors for crashes included drivers and riders failing to look properly, loss of control and poor turn or manoeuvre. Injudicious action including illegal or unwise judgements - such as exceeding the speed limit, following too close or making an illegal turn was the second biggest factor.

Alcohol was a relatively minor factor and listed in only 10 per cent of fatal accidents.

Behaviour or inexperience came a close third and physical circumstances such as road environment, factors affecting vision, and vehicle defects are listed as issues in very few accidents.

The research showed that `travelling too fast for the conditions' accounted for more fatal accidents than `exceeding the speed limit'. IAM say that driving too fast isn't necessarily just a case of a legal requirement - you could be driving too fast for the conditions without breaking any official speed limits at all.

"What is obvious from the top three rankings is that many accidents could be prevented by drivers simply changing their behaviour as well as gaining more experience," said IAM chief executive Simon Best.

"Having a driving licence doesn't necessarily mean that drivers have the skills they need to be safe. Accidents could be easily reduced by improving driver skills and lives could be saved - especially those of young drivers," he added.

The IAM calls on the government to introduce post-test training to support young drivers through the most dangerous part of their driving career and to improve their skills on the road for the rest of their lives.