Young drivers training course is expanding

A GROUNDBREAKING driver training course aimed at 10-17 year olds has announced it has launched a second venue in Leicester due to demand.

Lessons at the National Space Centre, which was Young Driver’s first venue in Leicester, have consistently been sold out since they launched in February 2017. All upcoming events are currently fully booked at the venue.

But Young Driver, which operates at more than 50 venues across the country, has announced it has launched at the Highcross Shopping Centre, and will continue to run at both locations to cover the demand in the area. The scheme will take over two floors of the John Lewis multi storey car park on selected weekend and school holiday dates.

Young Driver is the UK’s largest provider of pre-17 driving lessons, having delivered almost 500,000 lessons since it launched. Those aged between 10 and 17 can have lessons in brand new, dual controlled Vauxhall Corsas, with tuition provided by highly qualified driving instruc- tors. A special road system is created, with traffic signs, roundabouts and junctions, along with special areas to practice manoeuvres such as steering, control and parking. The emphasis of the lessons is on safety and encouraging youngsters to consider how to drive responsibly, giving them time to perfect the necessary driving skills without the pressures of public roads.

Four hundred people are killed in accidents involving young drivers every year in the UK. Shockingly, one in five newly qualified drivers crash within six months of passing their test, rising to 40 per cent of 17-year old males. Only eight per cent of drivers are aged 17 – 24 and yet they account for a worrying 30 per cent of people who are killed in cars every year.

But for those who have taken a Young Driver course, the rate of accidents in that worrying first six months drops by more than a half, to fewer than one in ten.

Laura White, head of marketing at Young Driver, said: “We are really excited to be launching our second Leicester venue, and for it to be such a great site. We have been actively looking for a new venue in the area for quite some time, as lessons at the Space Centre are consistently sold out. The Highcross Shopping Centre will give us a large space where we’ll create an interesting road system, and there will be plenty of opportunities for youngsters to try out lots of different driving skills and techniques. It’s also easily accessible by car or public transport.

“Clearly something needs to be done to tackle the seriously high accident rates of our young drivers, as one in five young people has an accident within six months of passing their test. Research shows that training drivers over a longer period of time and that catching youngsters when their attitudes towards driving are still developing is key to producing a safer driver. This allows youngsters to have a solid understanding of how to drive a car before they get anywhere near a real road – meaning when they do learn at 17 they can focus more on other road users and potential hazards.”

Driving tuition is available for disabled youngsters and Young Driver can also cater for birthday parties. Thirty or 60-minute lessons must be booked in advance. Lessons start from £34.95.

Current confirmed dates for Young Driver to run at Highcross are 5th April and 26th May, with further dates to be announced shortly.

For more information, to book a lesson or to buy vouchers visit www.youngdriver.com or call 0844 371 9010.