 YOUNG DRIVERS OFFERED ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Newly qualified drivers in Somerset are being offered grants towards the cost of additional training – in a move to reduce the number of young people being killed and injured on local roads.
A third of all car crashes in the county involve drivers in the 17 to 24 age group and newly qualified drivers are more likely to have a collision in the first year after passing their test than at any other time in their life.
Now the Somerset Road Safety Partnership is offering young drivers a £60 grant towards the average £130 cost of taking the Pass Plus course which gives them a minimum of six hours on-the-road tuition, with a qualified driving instructor, to gain experience of aspects of driving not covered when learning to drive.
As part of the Driving Standard Agency’s Pass Plus scheme new drivers get the chance to experience motorway driving, under instruction, while other sessions cover driving at night, on dual carriageways and on town and country roads. They also attend a two-hour workshop on driving attitudes and behaviour.
More than 300 young drivers in Somerset have already taken up the grant to enable them to take additional training under the Pass Plus scheme.
The 300th young driver to apply for Pass Plus training was Matthew Hughes, aged 18, from Taunton, who passed his test in August.
“I applied because by taking this course you get cheaper car insurance and I got a 20 per cent reduction in my insurance,” said Matthew.
“But I found the workshop really interesting and I’m sure the things I learned will make me a far better driver.
Rina Cameron, of the Somerset Road Safety Partnership, said: “Driver education is an essential element in the campaign to reduce the number of casualties on our roads, particularly among this vulnerable group.
“Although cheaper car insurance is the main motivation for many young drivers taking Pass Plus, we believe this additional road experience, under expert guidance, will make them better and safer drivers.
“Parents are invited to attend the workshop with the young drivers and find the session extremely informative,” she said.
“It is many years since many of the parents took their driving test or looked at a Highway Code and they say the workshops reminded them of things they had forgotten and a few they didn’t know before.”
The classroom workshops take place at the fire stations in Bridgwater, Williton and Yeovil.
The Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is actively involved as a partner in the Somerset Road Safety Partnership and is playing an increasingly proactive role in the road casualty reduction programme.
Anyone wanting to apply for Pass Plus should contact the Somerset Road Safety Partnership at County Hall, Taunton, or telephone 01823 423430.
Information about the Partnership and its casualty reduction campaigns can be found on its website – www.roadsafetysomerset.org.uk
ENDS
For further information contact Rina Cameron, Somerset Road Safety Partnership, on 01823 423430
Kelvin White Driving School have been selected to present the workshop for the Bridgwater area and as Tutor I look forward to meeting you all on the evening.
Kelvin White. | 
