Brands Hatch young drivers

Underage driving – Made legal! – Children and teenagers as young as 11 can sample life behind the wheel for the first time with YoungDrive! – Our driving school with a difference.

The Experience – YoungDrive! Is open to anyone aged 11 and over, allowing your youngsters to gain their first experience behind the wheel much earlier than they would on the open road. They will be taught the basics of driving by a DSA-approved instructor within the confines of the race circuit, creating a safe and stress-free environment, perfect for their first taste of driving.

They will be in control of a dual controlled MINI ONE as they practice essential car control and build up their confidence, which will prove vital for when they hit the road for real. Safety is paramount but the emphasis on having fun!

The cars are fitted with dual controls and pupils will be accompanied by a DSA-approved instructor and will share the car with up to two others.

The programme

·         Introduction and classroom briefing
·         In-car briefing on controls
·         Moving off and stopping
·         Steering through cone configurations
·         Clutch control and its purpose
·         Changing gears
·         Building up speed and steady driving (up to 40mph) on closed off sections of the circuit
·         Students rotate driving and watching from the rear seat
·         Debriefing and certificate presentation
·         Photo opportunity
·         Q and A for parents and students

Duration – the experience lasts 2.5 hours in total, in total, including registration, briefings and 35-40 minutes’ driving time.

Gift packs and delivery – When you order from MSV you will receive a gift pack that explains everything you need to redeem a voucher and book a driving experience day. All gift packs contain details on the relevant driving activities and include a personalised voucher and venue details

By: Unknown On 12:00

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WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH BRITAIN'S YOUNG DRIVERS...

How the number don’t add up for younger motorists

Young drivers are always getting singled out for strong criticism. They’re accused of being irresponsible, reckless and dangerous. This has led to some lively debates about the UK’s younger motorists during the past 12 months, and a range of headline-grabbing ideas been suggested to ‘deal’ with the issues surrounding them.

But is the reputation of younger drivers justified? If so, why are they a higher risk? And what are the solutions?

The numbers don’t lie

When it comes to young drivers and road safety, the numbers don’t add up in their favor. The Association  of British Insurers says that only 12% of drivers in the UK are under 25, but that this age group accounts for over 30% of road fatalities; the Association of British Insurers estimates than an 18-year-old is three times more likely to be involved in a crash than a driver who is 30-years-old.

The data on road accidents and fatalities clearly shows that drivers aged 17-24 are involved in a disproportionately high number of incidents. In 2011 a total of 5,419 people were killed or seriously injured in UK accidents involving young drivers.

It’s an imbalance that can seriously affect young drivers’ ability to find competitive premiums, and leaves them in desperate need of advice when looking for more specialist policies. But what’s the reason for this disparity? Why are so many young drivers and passengers dying on the roads?

Driven to distraction

One explanation is that young drivers are dangerously distracted. A recent YouGov poll of 2,500 young people found that 45% were distracted by scenery, 44% by the radio and 33% by mobile phones.

Then there’s the distraction of carrying passengers; anecdotal evidence suggests that peer pressure to drive fast and take risks is a very real problem. Even when a young driver is alone they’re more likely to break the speed limit – the research by YouGov found a quarter 24% of young drivers said they would find it acceptable to speed at night.

Mind the gap

Another explanation is the skill and knowledge ‘gap’ – younger motorists are less accomplished drivers than their older counterparts, and are more likely to make mistakes in marginal situations.

This certainly isn't surprising. Driving is a skill, developed through years of practical application. Older drivers with decades of experience have logged thousands of hours behind the wheel, whereas young motorists are constantly encountering new situations – such as heavy rain, driving at night or using busy motorways – after they pass their test.

Research by Red Driving School supports the theory of a knowledge gap applying to young drivers. It questioned 1,000 drivers aged 14-17 and found that 79% didn't know the legal drink driving limit in the UK. The research also revealed that 20% of respondents drink drive when “the unexpected happens”. Separate research has suggested that drivers aged 20-24 fail more breath tests than any other age group.

Care and accountability

Finally, the higher risk of younger drivers can be partly explained by a lack of care, investment and responsibility towards servicing and insurance. The society of motor maintenance and traders found young drivers were not servicing their car properly, and were unaware that software updates are available.

The society of motor maintenance and traders polled 2,000 drivers and found 10% of drivers aged 18-24 never had their car serviced; 12% of drivers 25-34 had never serviced their car. These figures are strikingly different to older drivers – only 5% of drivers aged 35-54 – and only 2% of drivers over 55 – fail to have their car properly maintained.

The driver and vehicle licensing agency has reported the number of 17-20 years-old drivers without insurance has fallen by half in three years. However, this age group still accounts for 10% of the 1.2 million uninsured drivers thought to be on the road – a disproportionately high figure.

So the question is are young drivers safe to be on our roads?

By Beth Lloyd

By: Unknown On 09:15

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