Keeping children entertained over the school holidays can be difficult – but families in East Yorkshire can let their children aged 10 and over have a go at driving a real car this half term holiday, thanks to a scheme which aims to create a safer next generation of drivers.
Young Driver, the UK’s largest provider of pre-17 driving tuition, will be running an event on Tuesday 29th October at the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield, offering those aged 10-17 the opportunity to learn how to drive.
An entire road system is laid out to allow youngsters the chance to try everything from steering round a slalom to parallel parking. Junctions, roundabouts and parking areas, along with having to negotiate round other road users, give young people a taste of what being a responsible driver involves. Thirty or 60-minute lessons mirror those taken on the road at 17 and are in a dual controlled Vauxhall Corsa with a fully qualified driving instructor.
Young Driver has delivered more than 740,000 driving lessons since it launched 10 years ago. The emphasis is on safety as research shows that those who have early driver training are half as likely to have an accident when they do go on to pass their test. Currently, one in five UK drivers will crash within six months of getting their licence.
Sue Waterfield, head of marketing at Young Driver, said: “Young Driver is one of those rare activities which is great fun for young people – but also, as parents, you know it’s hugely educational and helping them be safer on the road, as cyclists, pedestrians and future drivers. It’s a perfect activity for a school holiday, as it’s not weather dependent, and it’s a great chance to boost the confidence of young people, as they find out they can safely do something they wouldn’t normally be allowed to try.”
Young Driver usually operates at the Defence School of Transport on weekend dates across the year. Driving tuition is available for disabled youngsters and Young Driver can also cater for birthday parties. Thirty or sixty-minute lessons must be booked in advance and prices start from £36.99.
For more information, to book a lesson or to buy vouchers visit www.youngdriver.com or call 0333 577 9010.
