ALMOST 170 young drivers and passengers are killed or seriously injured on UK roads every month and a pilot scheme being launched in Scotland is aiming to reduce the number of 17 to 24-year-olds involved in major incidents.
City of Edinburgh Council is one of six across the country chosen to pilot the initiative, along with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which has been created by community interest company Good Egg Drivers.
They will distribute thousands of guides – Getting your licence and keeping it ... everything you need to know – to practical test centres throughout Edinburgh, along with support materials in theory test centres.
The guides are designed to be the ultimate resource for the new driver – highlighting the dangers posed at the wheel while offering positive, practical advice.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Edinburgh’s transport convener, said: “Passing your driving test is a very exciting milestone for young people and we want to make sure the newest drivers on our roads enjoy driving while keeping themselves, their passengers and other road users safe.
“Sadly, the statistics for deaths or serious injuries among 17 to 24-year-old road users make for grim reading.
“This Good Egg guide provides straightforward and potentially life-saving advice to help young drivers avoid distractions at the wheel, as well as useful tips on buying your first car or getting a good deal on insurance.
“The council and our partners are working towards a shared ‘vision zero’, where everyone is safe from the risk of being killed or seriously injured on Edinburgh’s roads and we’re delighted to be one of six UK councils selected to support the Good Egg guide pilot.”
Other areas involved in the pilot are Newcastle, York, Liverpool and the London boroughs of Hillingdon and Lewisham.
Jan James, founder of Good Egg Drivers, said: “We feel strongly that these collisions involving our youngest drivers are so frequent that we have, in a sense, almost become desensitised to the tragic reports we see with alarming regularity.
“Our guides are not designed to be ‘preachy’ – they are very straightforward and wholly focused on the key messages new drivers urgently need to be aware of.”
The easy-to-read guides were developed in collaboration with academics and some of the country’s top road safety experts and give clear warnings on the dangers posed by passenger distractions, mobile phones, alcohol, drugs and speeding.
They also offer practical advice on matters such as avoiding huge insurance premiums, what to do in advance of your test – and even buying your first car.
The Good Egg new drivers initiative has received backing from across the motoring industry, including insurers and the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM).
Neil Greig, IAM Roadsmart’s policy and research director, said: “As a learner taking on board the right information and getting as much useful experience as possible are the keys to a long driving career.
“In this guide you can learn about the key risks that new drivers can face and how to deal with them.
“Use it to make sure that your on-road time with instructor or parents hits the right targets and prepares you for real world driving on our busy and stressful British roads.”
Jean-Baptiste Limare, head of Veygo, an insurance provider for learner and new drivers, said: “It is still the case that new drivers are involved in far too many road traffic accidents.
“The team at Veygo are passionate about road safety - and we’re thrilled to support this initiative. “Hopefully going forward, Good Egg will be able to expand this pilot to every test centre in the UK – and we can begin to turn the tide on the huge number of crashes on our roads.”
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