Posted on Thursday 25th March 2021
Staffordshire mum Karen Gee who’s 17-year-old daughter will be taking driving lessons as soon as they restart
Parents and family members are being targeted in a new road safety campaign to help make young people better, safer drivers.
The ‘Helping New Drivers’ campaign is being delivered by the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership and includes a one stop website with advice on helping learner and new drivers stay safer on the roads.
The website at www.helpingnewdrivers.co.uk has advice and resources on things like choosing a good driving instructor along with useful tips for parents and family members when practising with their learner driver in the family car. Short videos, a quiz and take away guides with hints for first-time car buyers are also available.
James Bailey, Assistant Director for Highways and the Built County at Staffordshire County Council said:
“Keeping our roads safe remains our priority and through the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership our roads continue to be amongst the safest in the country.
“We know from research that younger, newly qualified drivers are much more likely to be involved in a collision, so it’s vital that we do what we can to help keep them safe. Parents and family members are still a major influence in getting young people through their driving journey and are well placed to provide that practical advice.
“The website is packed full of useful tips and hints from finding a driving instructor to driving on rural roads and everything in between. And, with driving lessons hopefully restarting in the near future, I would urge parents, relatives and friends who know young people to please check out the website and together let’s help make the next generation of drivers as safe as we can.”
A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesman said:
“We want to ensure our city’s roads remain as safe as possible, and this website provides an excellent resource for young drivers to develop their skills and knowledge. We encourage all learner and new drivers to work through the excellent information available to help keep themselves and other road users safe.”
Some top tips from the website include:
- For parents and family members, spend as much time as possible sitting with your young person as they practice their driving in the family car. It’s essential that they get in as much practice as possible, but this must be alongside professional tuition, not instead of it.
- When your new driver looks to buy their first car, with or without your help, explain to them how a newer car needn’t cost a lot more than something older which will cost much more to run – and which will be much less safe. Newer cars have more tech that helps to prevent crashes, but in the event of a collision a newer car can provide much more protection.
- When choosing car insurance, steer your learner towards a telematics (or black box) policy. Not only can this save them a lot of money very quickly but it could also make them a safer driver.
- Driving too fast, taking drugs or drinking alcohol can all lead to disaster and it’s the same with using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt. These are known as the Fatal Five and it’s key that you spend time talking about these dangers with your young driver.