RoSPA join drive to make Derbyshire Dales roads safer

12 February 2010

Dozens of young drivers and motorcyclists have already taken advantage of a cash boost to improve their skills after the District Council announced it was part-funding an incentive scheme that slashes the cost of a typical skills test.

Since last month the Institute of Motorists (IAM) has been offering for just £19, an 85% discount, membership and a skills test to young motorists aged 17-25 who live in the Derbyshire Dales and sign up before 31 March this year – thanks to a £70 contribution per applicant from the District Council and £50 from Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership.

With the same funding, RoSPA are now offering a free package to young motorists who live in the Derbyshire Dales that includes membership to the group and as much tuition as is needed to pass the RoSPA advanced test. Also included are the Highway Code & Roadcraft books needed to pass the test, the test fee and the RoSPA Young Drivers’ Assessment.

Derbyshire Dales District Council Leader Councillor Lewis Rose OBE, who is also Chair of the Derbyshire Dales Community Safety Partnership, said: “We are delighted RoSPA is supporting a safety drive we are convinced has the potential to save lives.

“Making the excellent advanced driving schemes taught both by IAM and RoSPA more accessible to young people is a tremendous initiative because unfortunately younger drivers and riders are at greater risk of being involved in incidents than other motorists.”

The first young driver in the Dales to pass the discounted driving scheme, 18-year-old Nathalie Pearce of Matlock said: "The funding is brilliant and so is the course, which widened my experience. A couple of my friends have already decided to do the same course – they were impressed with what I told them about the opportunity not only to make them better and safer drivers but also to potentially reduce the cost of insurance. I’d recommend young motorists to sign up now.”

RoSPA spokesman Rob Barrows said: “Advanced drivers are 25% less likely to be involved in a road accident and in addition to the obvious safety benefits of signing up to an advanced driving scheme, active membership can drive down the cost of car insurance. Thanks to this funding, for a limited time we are able to offer a special advanced package to young motorists at no charge and we anticipate significant interest from young people in the Derbyshire Dales.”