Tag: young drivers

Streets Ahead: City’s young drivers learn risks and responsibilities

Hundreds of new and aspiring young motorists are being given a thought-provoking insight into the risks and responsibilities faced by drivers this week.

Pupils from Royal High School are shown a car damaged by a crash, to find out more about irresponsible driving.

Sixth-year pupils from schools across the Capital are taking part in the ninth annual Streets Ahead Edinburgh Young Driver event, which aims to raise awareness of the dangers posed to newly-qualified drivers.

Amongst the hard-hitting, interactive activities highlighting the potential hazards of driving are the opportunities to try on drunk goggles, crash simulator headsets and seatbelt slides. Pupils will also watch dash-cam footage from Police Scotland and immerse themselves in Digby Brown Solicitors’ ‘mock court’, which recreates the aftermath of a road traffic collision.

The ever-popular event, which is attended by more than 2400 pupils from 31 schools, is hosted by Forth 1 DJ Grant Thomson and is jointly run by all partners in Streets Ahead Edinburgh: the City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, NHS Lothian, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Safety Camera Unit (East).

The event is supported by Digby Brown Solicitors with other participants including the Scottish Ambulance Service, British Transport Police, Brain Rehabilitation Trust and Child Brain Injury Trust.e

Returning this year to speak to the young drivers is Laura Torrance. Laura, 35, has been a wheelchair user since 1999 when she was seriously injured in a car accident at the age of 16.

As well as thought-provoking presentations and interactive activities, sixth-year pupils attending the four-day event will learn about Operation Close Pass, which demonstrates safe distances for overtaking a cyclist on the road and, thanks to participation from Edinburgh Trams and Lothian, will get the chance to sit behind the wheel of a stationary electric bus to highlight driver visibility first hand.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “It’s fantastic to see so many young people engaged in this event, which every year helps highlight the importance of safe and responsible driving amongst some of our youngest and least experienced motorists.

“The interactive element may be fun, but there’s no ignoring the hard-hitting messages it conveys. As a Council, we are committed to keeping everyone safe from the risk of being killed or seriously injured on our roads, and the Young Driver event is a great way of instilling this ethos in the next generation of drivers.”

Inspector Roger Park from the Road Policing Unit in Edinburgh said: “We believe it is vital to engage with young people who have recently passed their driving test, who are working towards their test and who are looking to start driving for the first time.

“Police Scotland are pleased to be supporting this important event and to be working closely with our partners in a multi-agency approach to promote safe driving. We hope that giving young people advice and guidance will give them an insight that will help them be safe on the roads.

“There is also a safety message to all drivers, as reducing the number of people seriously injured or killed on our roads is a key priority for Police Scotland and Edinburgh Division. We want everyone, young or otherwise, to be aware of the dangers of speeding, drink driving and driving under the influence of drugs. Awareness will contribute to reducing casualties in the future.”

Kenny Rogers, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Local Senior Officer for the City of Edinburgh, said: “Young drivers need to be equipped with the knowledge to stay safe on our roads and this event provides a great opportunity for all emergency partners to talk about the potential dangers of being behind the wheel of a car.

“It’s important to show young people how they can take measures to avoid being in a collision in the first place.”

For live updates from the event, check out Edinburgh Young Drivers on Twitter @edinyoungdriver and follow the hashtag #edinyd.

Young drivers: The facts

Young drivers are much more likely to be involved in an accident than older drivers. 17-25 year-olds account for 10% of licence holders, but over 20% of accidents.

The types of accidents which young drivers are involved in are different from older, more experienced drivers. Young drivers are more likely to be involved in:

  • Single vehicle accidents
  • Accidents as a result of the driver losing control of the vehicle

Find out more about the Young Drivers event online.

Drive and Thrive: hard-hitting messages for young motorists

Fledgling motorists from across Edinburgh received a hard-hitting introduction to the risks of driving at a popular road safety event this week. 

Hundreds of sixth-year pupils once again tested out crash simulators, drunk goggles and even sit behind the wheel of an electric bus as part of the Streets Ahead Edinburgh Young Driver event, which returned to the Corn Exchange for an eighth year, hosted again by Forth 1 DJ Grant Thomson.

Continue reading Drive and Thrive: hard-hitting messages for young motorists

Edinburgh’s young drivers are Streets Ahead

Young Drivers event, Edinburgh, 4th, October, 2016

Hundreds of sixth year pupils from schools across Edinburgh will test out “seatbelt slide” crash simulators, drunk goggles and even get the chance to sit behind the wheel of an electric bus as part of a fun but hard-hitting three-day road safety education event this week.

The Streets Ahead Edinburgh Young Driver event returns to the Corn Exchange for a seventh year from 9-12 October, hosted by Forth 1 DJ Grant Thomson.

The popular event is jointly run by all partners in Streets Ahead Edinburgh, namely City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, NHS Lothian, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, Transport Scotland and Scottish Safety Camera Unit (East). It is supported by Digby Brown Solicitors, who are again bringing their interactive ‘mock court’ to the Young Driver event.

Returning again this year to speak to the young drivers is Laura Torrance (below). Laura, 34, has been a wheelchair user since 1999 when she was seriously injured in a car accident at the age of 16. 

Young Drivers event, Edinburgh, 4th, October, 2016
As well as meeting Laura, sixth-year pupils attending the four-day event will have the opportunity to try out a range of fun, interactive activities highlighting the dangers of driving, such as drunk goggles, a seatbelt slide and a breathalyser.

A new presentation by Police Scotland will further help drive home safety messages by using dash-cam footage of an incident involving a young driver, while Operation Close Pass will show pupils the safe distances for overtaking a cyclist on the road.

As well as Edinburgh Trams, Lothian (Buses) are taking part in Young Driver for the first time this year. In addition to giving pupils the chance to sit behind the wheel of a stationary electric bus to highlight driver visibility first hand, they will give a presentation about the unintended consequences brought about by the seemingly small actions of other road users: for example overtaking, undertaking or lane swerving, even at slow speeds, can cause a bus to brake sharply, sometimes resulting in fatal consequences for the customers on board.

Cycling group Spokes is also involved in the event, highlighting the need for drivers and cyclists to look out for each other on the roads.

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport Vice Convener, said: “Our annual Young Driver events are always hugely popular. Their emphasis on fun, interactive elements combined with hard-hitting stories and messages gives sixth year pupils the chance to digest some extremely powerful safety messages about driving and sharing the road. 

“As a Council, our vision is for everybody to be safe from the risk of being killed or seriously injured on our roads. By reaching these young drivers in this way, we are helping them to keep themselves and others safe by stressing that all road users need to look out for each other.”

Inspector Roger Park of Police Scotland’s Road Policing Unit said: “Keeping people safe is the cornerstone of Police Scotland and reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads plays a significant part in that process.

“My colleagues and I in Police Scotland are delighted to support this very useful and worthwhile event, where we will work closely with our partners in a multi-agency approach, engaging with young people who may be about to take up motoring in one form or another.

“This year, Police Scotland has introduced its Innovative ‘New Driver Early Intervention Scheme’ which we will be presenting throughout the event. The scheme provides an insight into the potential dangers associated with motoring and introduces advice and guidance which I am confident will assist in influencing lifestyle choices which in turn will contribute to our overall goal of reducing casualties on or roads.”

Gordon Dalyell is a Partner and Head of Network at Digby Brown Solicitors who stage the judicial demo. He said: “There are too many avoidable road traffic crashes in and around Edinburgh, but what can make these more tragic is many of them involve young or newly qualified drivers.

“The court display of our Edinburgh solicitors may be a demo but the details are based on real cases which keenly highlight the very real and potentially devastating consequences of road traffic collisions. If Young Drivers 2017 helps save even one life, then it’s a project Digby Brown is proud to support.”

Sarah Boyd, Lothian Operations Director, said: “Getting behind the wheel for the first time is exciting and we are delighted to be able to attend the City of Edinburgh Council’s Young Driver event to offer support and guidance to the next generation of drivers.

“As the city population expands and road space decreases, it is important to understand how to share road space responsibly and our presentation aims to make other road users aware of the direct impact their driving can have on our customers and buses.

“By working with the Council at this year’s Young Driver event we hope to develop awareness of how the smallest of actions whilst driving can have life changing and lasting consequences.”

Kenneth Rogers of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “Road collisions are the biggest cause of death for young people aged between 15 and 19. 

“This is why the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is keen to raise awareness of the dangers and help save lives. We hope this multi-agency approach to encourage safe and responsible driver behaviour, and showing the possible consequences of irresponsible driving gets the message across.”

The facts (from Road Safety Scotland):

– An average of 54 accidents a week in Scotland involve a young driver aged between 17 and 25.
– They account for ten per cent of all licence holders, yet young drivers are involved in 20 per cent of accidents.
– Sadly, those accidents lead to an average of one death and more than 70 people injured every week.

Check out Edinburgh Young Driver on Twitter@edinyoungdriver and follow the hashtag #edinyd.

FEEDBACK FROM PREVIOUS YOUNG DRIVER EVENTS

“It really made me stop and think about what can happen; and how it’s not just your life that can be ruined but how it affects your whole family too.”  (Sixth year pupil, Craigmount High School)

“Pupils and staff found all events thought-provoking, while the interactive elements allowed for fun but at the same time a serious message was being given.” (Staff member, Queensferry Community High School)