Young drivers being involved in accidents seems to be a very common thing. With this in mind, there is a growing number of people calling for driving skills to be taught before children turn 17.
Young Driver, the UK’s largest pre-17 driving school, is proposing that driving education should be added to the school curriculum. It’s an idea that is being backed by MPs, school leaders, motoring groups like IAM RoadSmart, and manufacturers such as Suzuki GB.
Young Driver has already delivered over 1.5 million lessons to under-17s, and recently surveyed 2,700 parents and grandparents. 65% of these said they believe driving should be taught in schools. When asked about graduated licences, a system that restricts new drivers in stages, 67% liked the idea, but nearly a quarter felt that with better education, these types of restrictions might not be necessary.
“We also asked if parents supported the idea of a graduated licence. Whilst the majority (67%) did agree with it in some form, one in four (23%) said they thought with proper education, it wouldn’t be so necessary. Having delivered more than 1.5 million pre-17 driving lessons in the UK, we have seen first-hand the difference they can make to young driver safety. We take driving lessons into schools through our Foundation and the feedback is staggering.”
Adrian Harding, from Young Driver but was previously a senior teacher
One in five new drivers in the UK is involved in a crash within six months of passing their test. That being said, only 3.4% of those who had worked with Young Driver had an accident in the same time period. That results in an 84% reduction in new driver accidents compared to the national average.
“Having seen Young Driver in action at their Barton Stacey site, I was incredibly impressed by the way it equips young people with vital driving skills and road safety awareness well before they reach 17. We know the accident statistics for young drivers need improvement, and these programmes can really help. The Young Driver Foundation has been running programmes in schools, and I am sure if included in the curriculum it could help to save lives and reduce collisions on our roads.”
Caroline Nokes MP for Romsey and Southampton North
Over the past year, Young Driver’s not-for-profit arm, the Young Driver Foundation, has delivered lessons at 109 school events, reaching 4,500 pupils. Lessons cover the basics of safe driving, taught on private roads set up with realistic junctions, signage, and parking spaces. For younger students, aged four to nine, lessons are delivered in specially designed Firefly Sport electric vehicles.
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