IAM back a petition for students to be taught road safety at school
In a bid to curb the rising number of accidents on UK roads, major motoring organisations and experts have drawn up a petition urging the Government to put driving on the school curriculum.
The petition has been created to help cut the high number of accidents involving newly qualified drivers on the UK’s roads. Launched by Young Driver, the UK’s largest provider of pre-17 driving lessons, the petition is already supported by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), the RAC, the Driving Instructors Association (DIA), the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the Motor Schools Association of Great Britain (MSA), Admiral, Goodyear, as well as motoring presenter and expert Quentin Willson.
The petition comes as it has been revealed that one in five new drivers have an accident within six months of passing their test, with road accidents being responsible for 25 per cent of the deaths of 15 to 19 year olds in the UK, in comparison to just 0.5 per cent of adult fatalities. In fact, 400 people are killed in accidents involving young drivers every year.
The petition doesn’t propose that the driving age should be lowered, but it suggests youngsters should be taught about driving at school, in both practical and classroom based lessons.
Kim Stanton from Young Driver explained: “Driving a vehicle is potentially one of the most dangerous and responsible things a person can do. Learning to drive should be done over a long period of time, and from a young age, when pupils are more receptive to safety messages.
“Evidence-based research shows that road safety messages are better absorbed by children in their early teens rather than at driving age. By having this take place at school it can be made inclusive for all. We urge people to sign this petition so we can get this issue in front of the people with the power to change things” Stanton continued.
Independent research taken on behalf of Young Driver has revealed that pupils who take part in the scheme, which teaches students from as young as 11, are half as likely to have an accident when they do pass their test. This supports the studies in Europe that have shown that crashes involving new drivers who have trained at school has reduced by 40 per cent.
Mark Lewis, director of standards for the IAM, said: “The high number of accidents and the sad loss of life as a result of unprepared young drivers urgently needs to be tackled. Quite obviously the driving education that youngsters are currently receiving is inadequate. At the IAM we can help prepare people for more advanced driving situations once they have passed their test, but there needs to be more done at an earlier stage.
“Learning such an important skill shouldn’t potentially be done and dusted in a few short months. That’s why I strongly believe people should sign this petition and get the subject debated in the House of Commons.”
Quentin Willson added: “Both my son, age 16, and daughter, age 11, have started having driving lessons with Young Driver. I think it’s vital – it’s a road safety revolution in the making. If we could get this on the curriculum, so the opportunity was open to all, it would have huge ramifications in terms of the safety of our young people. And, as both a father and road user, that’s certainly something I want to back. 100,000 signatures could help save 400 precious lives every year.”
You can sign the petition here.
