Solihull students gearing up to learn how to drive safely

Students from across the borough will be gearing up to learn how to drive safely at Solihull Council’s Young Driver event.

The event, held at the NEC, takes place between Monday 30th January and Wednesday 1st February.

Young drivers continue to be over represented in reported road traffic collisions.

In Solihull young male drivers (17- 29), account for 30% of all adult drivers who are killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions.

The Young Driver event will provide students with knowledge and practical skills that will support them in their driving careers.

Led by Solihull Council’s Sustainable Travel Team, the multi-agency event will see sixth form students engaging in workshops run by West Midlands Fire Service, the Institute of Advanced Motorists and Solihull Council.

Participants will also receive a driving lesson from the Young Driver group. The day culminates with an energising ‘Routes Road Safety’ presentation by Puppeteer Steve Wright.

Students from Grace Academy, Arden Academy, Park Hall Academy, Smith’s Wood Sports College, CTC Kingshurst Academy and John Henry Newman Catholic College will be attending the event.

Councillor Ted Richards OBE, Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways, said: “This is a positive event that will really test students in the borough.

“It gives them a head start which will hopefully prevent them from becoming another avoidable statistic.”

Kim Stanton, Director at Young Driver, added: “It is always a pleasure to be involved in these events, and it is great to see councils proactively tackling the subject of young driver safety.

“We know that early intervention can really reduce accident rates – our past pupils are half as likely to have an accident in the first six months on the road than the average newly qualified driver.

“We look forward to speaking to lots of youngsters on the day, and giving them their first taste of being behind the wheel!”

Picture: Students from Park Hall Academy at last year’s event.

Read more: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/news/ArtMID/820/ArticleID/1553/Getting-to-grips-with-driving