Advanced driving courses could save lives

4:25pm Monday 24th March 2008

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REDUCING motoring accidents involving young people and creating a better understanding of how to drive in potentially dangerous conditions is the aim of the Bolton Institute of Advanced Motorists.

The organisation is hoping a new promotional drive will encourage more young people to book an advanced driving course with the group.

It will not make them drive like Formula One star Lewis Hamilton - as some people may think the name of the organisation suggests - but it could save lives.

Bolton School staff have agreed to have club officials talk to sixth-form students about the courses available, and chairman Roy Sammons and vice-chairman Hugh German will explain to them how the course can help.

Publicity officer Katherine Whittle said that although many young drivers may feel confident and may only recently have passed their driving test, they are not prepared for some driving conditions.

"They will not have driven on motorways or country roads and it is often the country roads that pose the greatest problems for young drivers," she said.

"They do not know how to negotiate bends properly and could be encouraged to go faster by passengers, and the result can be disastrous."

Each additional passenger increases the accident risk - it increases to 33 per cent with one passenger, 85 per cent with two and 182 per cent with three or more.

In the USA, restrictions introduced limiting the number of passengers newly qualified drivers could carry led to a 20 per cent fall in the number of deaths and serious injuries involving the youngest drivers.

Katherine said that young drivers tended to play music or listen to radios, and often used their mobile telephones while driving.

"It makes concentrating very difficult," she said.

Every day four people are killed or seriously injured in accidents involving young drivers and eight out of 10 accidental deaths involving 15 to 19-year-old men occur on the road.

Male drivers aged 17 to 20 are almost 10 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than more experienced drivers.

Inexperience leads to accidents when driving at night, negotiating bends, driving at high speeds and driving on wet roads.

Figures show that compared to older motorists, young drivers have around twice the number of accidents negotiating bends.

Young people drive, on average, 11 per cent faster than older drivers and about 40 per cent of accidents involving young people, which result in death or serious injury, occur when the roads are wet.

Driving and safety organisations, including the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, Brake, the RAC foundation, the Make Roads Safe Campaign and RoadSafe, are due to discuss measures that could be taken to reduce the figures.

A minimum learning period is one measure that could be introduced. In the UK, each year about 50,000 17-year-olds pass their driving test with fewer than six months' driving experience.

In many European countries a minimum learning period is common. Campaigners believe that this measure could lead to 1,000 fewer deaths and serious accidents.

A structured learning programme would record a driver's progress and could be used to help them gain the experience they need.

Bolton Advanced Motorists can help young drivers become more confident and capable on the roads - particularly youngsters who have recently taken their tests.

Chairman Roy Sammons said: "The group trains drivers up to advanced driving standard and gives young drivers more experience of driving progressively and safely on country roads - the roads which pose the greatest risk of accidents."

The course is suitable for any driver.

Secretary Gary Whittle said: "People assume the group is elitist and because we are called advanced motorists means we drive like Lewis Hamilton, but it's not that at all. The course simply makes you more observant and more able to cope in different situations."

Although many parents feel their daughters or sons would benefit from a course, Gary said it was sometimes difficult to persuade the young person to take part.

He said: "It's no good if they have to be forced to do it - they have to want to do it."

Students learn about being safe on the roads and go out with an observer, who help them as they drive.

Becky Hall, aged 20, completed the course and is now an observer herself. She said: "I was pretty confident about my driving, but wanted to know more."

Katherine added: "Young drivers are not as experienced as older drivers when it comes to knowing how to react in some driving situations. We can teach them how to negotiate a bend properly, and at what speed depending on the road they are driving on, and how to overtake safely.

"There are many other situations that can cause problems for young drivers. We don't expect them to crawl along the road as that is a danger in itself. And if it's safe to do so we expect them to drive at the maximum speed limit for that road."

The next course will run in May and is open to anyone of any age. The fees are £65 for anyone aged 25 or under and £85 for over-25s, but there is a £35 refund for young people who pass the advanced test and £20 for anyone over 25.

Fees are due to rise after March 31, so anyone keen to take part in the May course should contact Annette Gamble before that date on 0161 797 1084 or email info@boltoniam.org.uk for more information.