Driving course that could save lives this summer
Parents, employers and young people can act to help save lives on the roads this summer.
Figures show more than 1,000 17-25 year olds are killed in road crashes in the UK every year. They make up only 10 per cent of driving licence holders, but are involved in 20 per cent of all road traffic accidents.
There are several reasons for these tragic deaths and accidents. Research shows that without proper training young people have a less developed road sense, they take unnecessary risks and they have a lower level of technical experience.
Many of the deaths are avoidable. To tackle the problem West Sussex County Council runs a highly successful Young Drivers Skills Course.
The day-long course aims to bridge the skills gap identified in young drivers and helps them develop the vital skills they need to become better drivers.
The County Council is hoping both parents and employers will encourage young people throughout West Sussex to sign up for the course. There are still some places available on the courses in the next couple of weeks.
Lionel Barnard, Deputy Leader of the County Council with responsibility for Highways and Transport, said: “Every year we hear desperately sad stories of young people who lose their lives in road traffic accidents.
“These courses are an excellent way of helping young people stay safe on the roads. I hope parents and employers will encourage youngsters to sign up for one of these courses before they set out on the roads this summer.”
The day ranges from an ‘observed drive’ on a variety of local roads with an instructor providing a running commentary, to a session on a skid pan at the famous Goodwood Motor Circuit near Chichester.
Dates for the remainder of 2010 are:
Monday July 19 and Monday July 26
Monday August 9, Friday August 20 and Monday August 23 Monday October 25 and Friday October 29
Monday December 20 and Wednesday December 29
• The cost of the course is £75.
Young drivers completing the course can also take a once in a lifetime drive around the famous Goodwood Motor Circuit in a Ferrari. This is to demonstrate to them the only place for speed is on a track, with a professional at their side. The cost of this and the course combined is £150.
For more details and to book a place, please call 01243 642989, or visit to www.westsussex.gov.uk and search ‘Young drivers training’.
Sign up to the Crawley Happy Times for all the latest news.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Brian FagenceTraynor, Crawley Happy Times . Crawley Happy Times said: Driving course that could save lives this summer | Crawley Happy Times Online http://goo.gl/5tE3 [...]
Its always good to hear about people trying to improve their driving. I’m not a big follower of the whole young drivers are dangerous, they just dont have the experience to know that everyone else on the road has little or no idea what they are doing.
So many people always say young drivers are the most dangerous but at the same time they aslo admit that if they had to sit the test again they would probably fail. The UK driving test is the minimum standard to drive on UK roads, if you dont think you could pass it then that should really tell you something.
I went back to my driving instructor to get a few brush up lessons and am a far safer driver because of it. It actually scares me how bad my driving had got in such a short space of time. Would recomend everyone with a licence does the same.
Personally I think the reason young drivers end up in most accidents is because they expect everyone to be driving to the same standard as they do, use indicators in the correct way, have good lane discipline, know when to check their mirrors etc. They just dont realise that the old guy in front is about to go from the inside lane on a roundabout straight to the same exit as they intend to take without indicating or using their mirrors.