A driver training school, where the pupils can be up to seven years away from being able to take their driving test, has given more than 2,500 lessons at its Beverley venue.
Young Driver, which is the UK’s largest pre-17 driver education programme, aims to create a safer next generation of motorists and has been running at the Defence School of Transport in Leconfield near Beverley since July 2018.
The scheme has now given more than 2,500 lessons to 10 to 17-year-olds in the area, in a bid to reduce the horrifically high accident rates for newly qualified drivers.
Four hundred people in the UK are killed each year in accidents involving young drivers and one in five newly qualified drivers has an accident within six months of passing their test. However, research shows for those who have had pre-17 driver education, that figure halves, dropping to one in ten.
Young Driver operates at more than 70 venues across the UK and at each, it sets out a realistic road system, including roundabouts, car parks, traffic lights and junctions, as well as specific zones for getting to grips with motoring manoeuvres. Lessons take place in a dual controlled Vauxhall Corsa with a fully qualified ADI instructor and the focus is on learning to drive safely and responsibly.
Sue Waterfield, head of marketing at Young Driver, said:
“The benefit of Young Driver lessons is that young people can concentrate on learning the basics of controlling a car before they have the additional pressures of wanting to pass their test quickly or having to deal with impatient motorists. It means that by the time they do get on the road, they know all about changing gears and clutch control and can, therefore, focus on the wider skills required to be a good driver.
“It’s fantastic that we’ve so far been able to deliver more than 2,500 lessons at our venue at the Defence School of Transport – which should hopefully have a really positive effect on the safety of our young people when they get on the road at 17.
Of course, that is good news not just for them but for all road users. Young Driver lessons are also beneficial to young people as pedestrians and cyclists, helping them to understand things like stopping distances and blind spots. And as well as that – they’re great fun! It’s fantastic to see the confidence boost in a teen who didn’t think they’d be able to do it, and by the end of their first lesson they’re reverse parking the car!”
For more information visit www.youngdriver.com or call 0333 577 9010.
