DOENI launches young driver teaching aid

12.00 | 1 July 2015 | | 3 comments

Working in partnership with PSNI, the DOE in Northern Ireland has produced a ‘Safe Driving Teaching Aid’ to support the role driving instructors play in preparing new and young drivers for the “risks of driving independently”.

The pack includes a booklet which addresses topics including the risk of being a new driver, speeding, drink driving, seatbelt wearing, vulnerable road users, drug driving, inattention and mobile phone use.

Each topic has a section of key facts that can be discussed and a real life story about the consequences of taking risks on the road. The pack also contains prompt cards which can be used as a quick reference.

Mark H Durkan, Northern Ireland’s environment minister, said: “With this material we are tapping into the unique position of the driving instructor where he or she can encourage their student to remember the risks on the road, while mastering the mechanical skills of driving.

“The pack is an interactive aid designed to help the ADI discuss these risks with learner drivers. By choosing one topic to discuss during each driving lesson, the ADI can help new drivers feel the risks that they will face every day on the road. The teaching aid is a vivid and easy to use resource. It will create debate and stimulate discussion between the instructor and student.”

Assistant chief constable Alan Todd, PSNI, said: “This new education pack gives driving instructors the opportunity deliver a challenging message which graphically illustrates the dangers young motorists can face, how quickly things can go wrong and how lives can be shattered.

“We hope that it will help to positively influence drivers who are starting out on their long and safe motoring careers.”

A new page on the Share the Road to Zero website will complement the hard copy resource and new drivers signing up to Share the Road to Zero will receive a series of emails designed to embed the road safety messages imparted by driving instructors.

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    “Real life stories” – or IOW – gore and scenes of death do not equate to lower fatalities, that’s the end message. Of course this discussion will continue whatever the facts are.

    Elaine Hardy PhD
    http://www.righttoride.org.uk/


    Elaine, Northern Ireland
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    In Lancashire we share real life stories a lot. We have researched and this is one of the only ways that young people take on board safety messages. In fact, it’s the discussion from hard hitting stories, films and in some cases images that really embed attitude change.

    In my opinion, these messages from a number of different sources can only be a good thing. Good luck Northern Ireland. How do I get a pack?


    Rhiannon Leeds (PGCE, MEd), Lancashire
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    What was of interest was the comment “deliver a challenging message which graphically illustrates the dangers young motorists can face, how quickly things can go wrong and how lives can be shattered”.

    The pack is unobtainable from the internet, so presumably it must be handed out by the poor schmucks that have to instruct young people.

    I shudder to imagine the pictures/videos of blood and guts, not to mention “The Coffin” that these young people will be forced to look at. (Personally I reckon somebody has shares in a coffin manufacturer).

    Nothing these civil servants do make the slightest difference – and that is (and will be) the tragic outcome of this exercise… and I can prove it!

    The only positive change that comes from Northern Ireland is the fact that young people will now have to do stages i.e. a graduated licence. Perhaps what might be helpful is if the instructors commence training young people to understand hazard awareness and the dangers on the road, rather than teaching them to pass a test. That would really help.

    I despair. In fact I give up!


    Elaine, Northern Ireland
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