Solihull Council Young Drivers Event

Young drivers continue to be over represented in reported road traffic collisions. In Solihull young male drivers (17- 29), account for 30% of all adult drivers who are killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions.

The Young Driver event provides students with knowledge and practical skills that will support them in their driving careers.

Led by Solihull Council’s Sustainable Travel Team, the multi-agency event saw sixth form students engaging in workshops run by West Midlands Fire Service, Solihull Advanced Motorists (SAM), and Solihull Council.

Participants also received a driving lesson from the Young Driver group. The day culminated with an energising ‘Routes Road Safety’ presentation by Puppeteer Steve Wright.

Students from Grace Academy, Arden Academy, Park Hall Academy, Smith’s Wood Sports College, CTC Kingshurst Academy and John Henry Newman Catholic College attended the event.

Councillor Ted Richards OBE, Cabinet Member for Transport & Highways, said: “This is a positive event that will really test students in the borough. It gives them a head start which will hopefully prevent them from becoming another avoidable statistic.”

Kim Stanton, Director at Young Driver, added: “It is always a pleasure to be involved in these events, and it is great to see councils proactively tackling the subject of young driver safety.

“We know that early intervention can really reduce accident rates – our past pupils are half as likely to have an accident in the first six months on the road than the average newly qualified driver.

SAM representatives Steve Price, Group Chair, and his Group Member son, Phil, gave a presentation which included: an introduction to SAM and the IAM; recent fatal and serious injury statistics involving young drivers; driver problem areas specific to young drivers; an introduction to advanced driving and the benefits to be gained; a few observation exercises and quizzes; and a few instructional and thought provoking videos. Also present to mingle with and talk to the students were Bernadette Mason, SAM Secretary, and Dave Fraley, SAM Training Coordinator.

In the photograph Phil is in the front at the left (wearing the SAM blue polo shirt), and Steve and Dave are in the second row to the right, also wearing SAM blue polo shirts. Unfortunately, Bernadette is either hidden from view, nipped off for a coffee, or was the person taking the photo. In the middle of the front row is Tracey Vaccarezzo from Solihull Council who organises the event. Tracey is herself an advanced driver, having trained and passed her test with SAM, and is still a SAM member.

Glen Bell