A competition to find the country’s best driver aged under 17yrs is returning for a second year.
The Young Driver Challenge 2015, backed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), offers young people aged 11-16yrs the chance to show their driving skills.
The challenge took place for the first time in 2014, with hundreds of entries from around the country. The eventual winners were named as Hannah Tripp, aged 13 from Cheddar in Somerset, and Troy Hickling, aged 16, from Leicester.
Run by Young Driver, the UK’s largest provider of under-17 driving lessons, the challenge is designed to “encourage youngsters to consider responsible and safe driving, with top marks given to those who show the best levels of control and awareness”.
Drivers are assessed during a lesson at any of Young Driver’s 28 venues, and marked according to strict criteria on their driving skills and manoeuvres, including parallel parking, figures of eight, turn in the road, steering, judgement and positioning.
The second part of the test examines a youngsters’ knowledge of the Highway Code.
Prizes include 20 Young Driver lessons, 20 ‘on the road’ post-17 driving lessons, and £500 off a car insurance premium. There is also a £200 prize for the young driver who shows the best attitude.
Kim Stanton, who runs the Young Driver scheme, said: “The Young Driver Challenge was a huge success last year. The final event included 40 youngsters who all demonstrated a driving ability well beyond their years, and I think people would be stunned to see how good they are.
“The aim of Young Driver has always been to create a safer next generation of drivers. We need to teach youngsters over a longer period of time, to give them a more thorough understanding and ample experience.
“Research actually shows that road safety messages are better absorbed by children in their early teens rather than at driving age.”
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