New course for young, high-risk drivers

The father of a young driver killed when his car left the road in Holywell last year is backing a new campaign to make 16 to 25 year olds safer behind the wheel.

Analysis shows that as a group young drivers are amongst the highest risk road users and there have been many examples of young lives being cut tragically short because of driver inexperience or risk taking, as well as young people being sent to jail for killing others on the roads of North Wales.

Now, working with the six local authorities, North Wales Police is offering young drivers who have been involved in a collision the opportunity to take part in a free Institute for Advanced Motorists (IAM) Skills for Life Package.

All drivers aged between 16 and 25 involved in a collision which did not result in serious injury or prosecution, will be given the chance to take advantage of this offer giving them nine hours on road training, the IAM book "Advanced Driving - The Essential Guide", entry into the Advanced Driving Test and 12 months IAM membership if successful.

Alan Palmer, whose son Lee lost his life in a single vehicle collision last December in Holywell said: "If our son had been able to have this opportunity following his first collision he might never have been killed in the collision on December 10, 2008. Anything which can be done to make young drivers more aware of dangers on the road has to be a good thing and I sincerely hope that any young driver offered this chance takes it. It could mean the difference between life and death for them."

Acting Chief Constable Ian Shannon said: "This new IAM opportunity will address some of the shortcomings of people who have already had a collision and the hope is that this will reduce the likelihood of that person being involved in future collisions. National figures show that a high proportion of young drivers killed in collisions had previously been in either a less serious collision or had committed a road traffic offence. This new scheme aims to give young drivers a better understanding of the dangers and potential consequences of their driving decisions and in doing so reduce the risk of them becoming involved in serious or fatal road collisions."

The new initiative is one of a number of schemes already underway in North Wales aimed at keeping young people safe on the roads. Other schemes include the subsidies Pass Plus Scheme; free AA Drive Smart lessons for young drivers who have been convicted of a number of road safety offences; the Driver Improvement Scheme, as an alternative to prosecution following a collision and the Motor Education Scheme for young people responsible taking motor vehicles and stealing from motor vehicles.