A new car, designed to be driven by children aged five to 10 years, will launch in May 2016.
The car, produced by Young Driver Motor Cars Limited, has been under development for nine months and was unveiled last week at the Gadget Show Live.
Young Driver Motor Cars Limited is a division of Young Driver, the UK’s largest provider of pre-17 driving lessons. Young Driver has delivered more than 300,000 driving lessons to 10-17 year olds at more than 40 venues across the country.
The new vehicle, which will have a top speed of 10mph, will be used at selected Young Driver training venues to give youngsters ‘a greater insight in terms of road safety’. Young Driver says road systems will be created to ‘allow the drivers to try their hand at everything from manoeuvring, junctions and traffic lights to reversing and parking’.
The two-seater car will feature twin electric motors, disc brakes, independent suspension, right or left hand drive steering and a system that detects obstacles and stops the car to avoid a collision. Parents will also be able to utilise a remote control to stop the car if it became necessary.
Kim Stanton, director of Young Driver, said: “This is not a toy, it is very definitely a small car.
“We’ve had children involved throughout its development, working with the designers and engineers to ensure that it provides a realistic driving experience.
“Many young people attend Young Driver lessons with brothers and sisters under 10 years old and there has been nothing on the market to cater for younger drivers.
“We created these training cars for five to 10 year olds from scratch because nothing existed in the market other than toys and fairground rides, and these don’t give a realistic driving experience.
“The ultimate aim is to give youngsters a greater insight in terms of road safety. By getting behind the wheel of a car, and tackling some day to day situations like junctions, passing cyclists and reversing, this age group will have a much clearer idea of how to protect themselves as pedestrians or on their bikes.
“Of course, it will also be great fun for them, which always helps with learning.
“As this is an electric car, it also helps teach youngsters about the environmental responsibility of motoring.”
I applaud RSGB for posting articles like this on the website. They are not recommending anything merely bringing to our attention something we might need to be aware of. I received a phone call from a member of the public asking about these sorts of courses for under 10’s and I would not have known about them had I not seen the article here earlier in the week here. There will always be pros and cons about teaching youngsters to drive and handle vehicles and it is good to hear from other people about the research connected to these, but let’s not criticise RSGB for bringing the article to our attention.
Jill Winstone Salford
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I have a fantastic idea for getting ten year old children used to being on a road and giving them a greater insight into road safety that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives. We could organise a government-supported national scheme whereby they were taught how to safely ride a bicycle on the road. I’d call my scheme Bikeability and its strapline would be ‘Cycling Proficiency for the 21st Century’. It would have knock-on effects of increasing exercise and all sorts of other good things. Oh, hang on a moment…
David, Suffolk
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Like Sarah Jones, I can’t understand why an article like this has appeared on the RSGB site, given the evidence suggests early introduction to driving brings about early licensure and negates the advantages which learning to drive at a later age would bring. Unless, or course, there is more recent evidence I am not aware of?
Michael McDonnell, Edinburgh
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Jo – there is a link in the story above – here it is:
https://www.youngdriver.eu/index.php/news/55
Nick Rawlings, editor, Road Safety News
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Please could you add a link for more information.
Jo
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Shame it is only a 2 seater as a rear seat for adults who can argue and ask “are we there yet” constantly would give the “realistic drive” many people have.
Peter City of Westminster
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Sarah
In this newsfeed we attempt to report the news in an impartial and balanced manner. Any claims in this article (and others) are attributed to the organisation(s) making them. The comments facility and discussion threads enable people to express a view about the story and claims within, as you have done in this instance.
Nick Rawlings, editor, Road Safety News
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Given the evidence base around this type of programme, namely that it reduces learner time, increases confidence and therefore potentially increases risk, rather than, as hoped in the article, reduces risk, is it appropriate to include such an item as news with such an apparently positive spin? Those who do not know the evidence, and who are trusting of the position of Road Safety GB could assume that this an approach that does reduce risk.
Sarah Jones, Cardiff
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