Driving school... pupils get behind wheel for lessons

THE closest most pupils come to being let loose behind the wheel of a car is when they are playing video games.

But now children as young as 15 are set to receive driving lessons as part of their school timetable.

Up to 100 pupils from nine secondaries in the Borders are to be given driving tuition in a scheme designed to improve road safety among young motorists.

Driving lessons have never been offered before as part of the national curriculum for 15 to 17-year-olds in Scotland.

The first lessons in the Drivewise Borders scheme took place at a disused airfield near Greenlaw, Berwickshire, yesterday, and more are scheduled for today.

A total of 14 sessions will be offered to around 700 pupils between now and October.

The course teaches basic knowledge of driving and road rules through simple vehicle manoeuvres, and instils good attitudes behind the wheel. Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart described the Drivewise scheme as ‘truly ground-breaking’.

Sarah Sillars, the organisation’s chief executive, said: ‘We have long campaigned for road safety to be a part of the national curriculum and through this pioneering scheme in the Scottish Borders it is starting to happen.

‘It is crucial the “safe driving is fun” message is brought into the lives of young people at school age and encouraged as part of the school system.

‘We believe that simply leaving young people at 17 to handle this all by themselves increases the risk tremendously to the driver and those around them.’

The scheme is run by Scottish Borders Council, with Police Scotland and Galashiels-based Volvo dealer Clelands. It has received funding of £73,000 from Transport Scotland.

A Scottish Borders Council spokesman said: ‘Pupils taking part in Drivewise will do so during the school day.

‘It is seen as providing educational benefits in terms of skills development, providing information on attitude and behaviour – as both a passenger and driver – and hazard identification in a safe, off-road environment.’

According to IAM RoadSmart, 10 per cent of Scotland’s drivers are aged 17 to 25 but they are involved in 20 per cent of road crashes.

Males in that age group had the highest accident rate in 2015 – 4.1 per 1,000 people compared to 2.4 for all drivers. The rate for females aged 17 to 25 was 2.7 in 2015.

Former British Touring Car Championship winner John Cleland, whose Volvo dealership is providing cars for the Drivewise scheme, said rural roads in the area presented challenges and hazards for novice drivers.

He added: ‘We have set up this new initiative to educate young people early, as it’s been found that those under the age of 17 with controlled driving experience are five times safer than their peers.’

‘Basic knowledge of road rules’