The DriveFit 2.0 project, an initiative aimed at improving road safety education for young and novice drivers in the UK, has successfully secured funding from The Road Safety Trust.
The funding is described as a critical step towards achieving DriveFit 2.0’s aim: to enhance road safety education and address the vulnerability of young road users by redesigning and improving an established intervention.
Building on the success of its predecessor, the DriveFit project, DriveFit 2.0 aims to enhance the effectiveness of pre-driver education through a redesigned, evidence-based intervention.
By incorporating active learning components and leveraging the insights gained from the acclaimed Pre-driver Theatre and Workshop Education Research (PdTWER) project, DriveFit 2.0 aspires to make a lasting impact on the road safety attitudes and intentions of young drivers.
The primary goal of DriveFit 2.0 is to deliver a robust and accessible road safety education programme. The project will:
- redesign the DriveFit intervention for easy implementation in schools and colleges
- evaluate the intervention’s impact on student attitudes and intentions with the support of two fire and rescue services
- disseminate findings to inform and improve road safety education practices nationwide
Thanks to the funding from The Road Safety Trust, the DriveFit 2.0 project is set to commence its vital work. The project, scheduled to run until July 2025, is supported by the RAC Foundation, the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC), the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), Road Safety GB, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.
Dr Elizabeth Box, research director at the RAC Foundation and lead researcher of the project, said: “This funding not only represents a significant vote of confidence in our approach but also further supports the evolution of road safety education for this at-risk group.
“With the support of The Road Safety Trust and our partners, we look forward to iterating the original DriveFit programme, to create a more accessible and engaging educational resource that promotes a positive shift in student attitudes and intentions towards road safety.”
Dan Quin, road safety and road rescue lead at the NFCC and chief fire officer at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are proud to support the DriveFit 2.0 project, bringing our front-line experience to this innovative educational initiative.
“Our commitment to road safety education aligns perfectly with the project’s aims, and we are eager to contribute to its success and the safety of young drivers across the UK.”
Ruth Purdie OBE, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, said: “Data shows young drivers are over represented in road crashes. That is why educating this cohort is vitally important for road safety.
“Using the latest research, this project seeks to evolve that education, creating an engaging resource that can improve attitudes towards safety.”
Ruth, Elizabeth,
Hi.
Excellent news on the grant.
If there is anything regarding drug driving (or even drink driving) you would like help with, just ask.
We have to build the education and prevention as well as the deterrent and prosecution. Sadly the later is usually ‘too late’ for far to many youngsters.
Ean
DrugWipe.
Ean Lewin, Wrea Green
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