START 'EM young

I WAS talking to a fellow auto-hack at a car launch last week and he told me of his plans to open a driving school for truck drivers – a bold attempt to produce better trained truckers on our busy roads. A great idea and I wish him well.

It reminded me of a company in the UK that seeks to produce better drivers by starting ‘em young.

The driving school, Young Driver, gives driving lessons to children as young as 11, and in the near future, they’ll teach kids as young as five.

Richard Smith, chief instructor for Young Driver, said: “When you’re learning to play the piano or the violin, you don't start at 17, you start at 5.” His point is well taken.

And to give youngsters an authentic driving experience, Young Driver is building a special car.

“Many young people attend Young Driver lessons with brothers and sisters under 10 years old and there has been nothing on the market to cater for younger drivers,” said Kim Stanton, director of Young Driver.

The new car has been designed by motoring experts specifically for children aged 5-10, who will initially be able to use it as part of a young driver training day on private land at selected venues. These will include specially designed road systems that will allow them to hone their maneuvering skills, as well as get used to traffic lights and junctions.

The car, which is codenamed ET1 (Electric Trainer 1), took nine months to develop and is powered by two electric motors that give it a top speed of 10mph. It uses disc brakes and has independent suspension, helping to offer what its makers, Young Driver Motor Cars, say is a |realistic driving experience.”

All versions will also feature a safety system that will cut power to the car if it senses a collision is imminent, plus instructors or parents will have a remote control that can be used to stop the car if necessary.

The new car will be offered to the public at around 5,000 British pounds (P310K), but the initial plan will center around driver training, with prices starting at about 15 British pounds (P930) per lesson.

“This is not a toy, it is very definitely a small car. We’ve had children involved throughout its development, working with the designers and engineers to ensure that it provides a realistic driving experience,” added Stanton.

“The ultimate aim is to give youngsters a greater insight in terms of road safety. By getting behind the wheel of a car, and tackling some day-to-day situations like junctions, passing cyclists and reversing, this age group will have a much clearer idea of how to protect themselves as pedestrians or on their bikes. Of course, it will also be great fun for them, which always helps with learning.”

And starting ‘em young seems to be paying off. Graduates of Young Driver’s programs have a 9 percent accident rate once they've obtained their license, compared to 20 percent in the general populace.

"The ultimate aim is to give youngsters a greater insight in terms of road safety"