Bournemouth Borough Council is leading the way in tackling road accidents amongst young drivers through the launch of a new scheme ‘Life Drive’ next month (October).
Building on the skills and experience already gained by young drivers, ‘Life Drive’ is designed to give young people help and advice on how to avoid potential accidents.
Using both theoretical and practical training, an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) will take participants through the common causes for accidents, and teach ways in which to reduce the risks they face on the roads. This will be followed by a practical session at LV=Streetwise including up to two 90 minute drive-outs with the ADI.
Life Drive has been designed using Graduated Driver Learning (GDL), an approach used in America and Australia which has proven to reduce the number of road accidents. The scheme is being delivered as part of the Council’s efforts to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Bournemouth roads by 40 per cent by 2020.
Councillor Michael Filer, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We are committed to reducing the number of accidents on Bournemouth’s roads. Helping young drivers develop a better understanding of the dangers they face on the roads is a proven way of doing this.
“Life Drive has been carefully designed to give young drivers a chance to develop skills that they may not have had a chance to learn before they took their driving test, giving them the tools they need to avoid potential dangers.”
The courses will run between October 2014 and March 2015 and will be delivered by LV=Streetwise on behalf of Bournemouth Borough Council, as part of the wider Dorset Road Safe Partnership.
Alison Shelton, Chief Executive of the SafeWise charity which runs LV=Streetwise, said: “Driving is the first tangible taste of real freedom for many young people and their whole life is ahead of them – we want to make sure that their first car isn’t their last.
“Our charity’s ethos is about reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused in preventable accidents. So for us, being able to offer something so valuable for this age group both free of charge and with an additional incentive is priceless.”
The free training is open to all Bournemouth residents aged between 17 and 25 who have passed their driving test within the past four years. As an incentive to take part all participants will be rewarded for their commitment to safer driving with high street vouchers which can be redeemed at participating businesses.
For further information on Life Drive please visit www.bournemouth.gov.uk/lifedrive or contact Alison Shelton on 01202 591330 for more information.
