Sydney, July 22 - Risky driving habits are more likely to injure or kill youths in car crashes than older drivers, said a study based on a survey of 20,000 young drivers.

Researchers at The George Institute investigated the relationship between risky driving behaviour, risk perception and the risk of crash.

They reported that young drivers who had a poor risk perception or an inability to recognise driving risks were more likely to crash.

However, those who did have a good understanding, but undertook risky driving behaviour when they were behind the wheel, still had a much greater likelihood of crashing.

'The research evidence shows that these behaviours are significant contributors to road crashes, particularly among young drivers who are still building their road skills in the first year of driving,' said study author Rebecca Ivers, associate professor at The George Institute.