Peugeot's Driving School

We hear a lot about young drivers and the danger that they pose to themselves and other road users. Statistics from the Institute of Advanced Motorists show that young motorists have more than double the chance of being involved in a serious or fatal car crash than over 60s do. This, together with all the other scary statistics out there, means that young drivers are feared about as much as drink-drivers and the uninsured.

Local authorities and road safety organisations have tried implementing all kinds of strategies to help reduce the number of young drivers being involved in crashes. They have employed shock tactics, such as getting a car crash survivor with life-changing injuries to talk about their experience or displaying a horribly-twisted wreck. They have tried education campaigns, where young people are told about all the awful statistics and taught the principles of safe driving.

Most of these tactics have been found to have little effect on the young driver crash rate, although some may have short term benefits. However, studies have found that hitting young drivers where it hurts – in their pockets – is one area that has potential to reduce the number of teenagers being hurt and killed on our roads. One way in which this is achieved is through UK motor insurers offering cheaper car insurance quotes to those who avoid driving at high-risk times, such as late at night.

Whilst this does seem to have had some effect, it is likely that combining car insurance benefits with other tactics is going to have even better results. Whether these other tactics take the form of a graduated driving licence, a longer learning period or a more challenging driving test, it is clear that we need to have a serious rethink about both young peoples' attitudes to driving and how they learn to drive.

One idea that has been mooted is that of getting young teenagers used to driving vehicles much before they hit 17. Whilst obviously the road is not the place for this, private land and off-road tracks provide a safe environment for children to learn the basics. This way, they get more experience of driving and the dangers which come as part of it. This idea has been put into practice at one Swindon school, where 15 year olds are benefiting from the tuition. It is a scheme which could be extended should it prove to be successful.

However, others believe that children should start learning about the basic principles of driving and road safety even earlier. Peugeot, for example, has been central to the development of a driving course for under 10s which has proven to be astoundingly successful amongst both children and parents.

Recently voted the most popular attraction at Alton Towers, the Peugeot 207 Driving School Ride lets children take to specially-designed roads in mini Peugeots. They can construct their own routes in their electric-powered cars and need to tackle common road features such as roundabouts and junctions. According to Alton Towers staff, the Bubble Car Wash is the children's favourite feature.

Granted, this isn't the most serious of courses, but if Peugeot can get children paying attention to road signs and making more conscious observations of the roads which they travel on day-to-day, this could be very valuable in creating a greater degree of respect for cars and cutting the number of young drivers being injured.

A spokesperson for Peugeot commented: "We think it's important to give as many children as possible the opportunity to experience driving situations at an early age. Many young people can't wait to get out in their own car, and by teaching them the basic Highway Code through the ride we are enforcing the need for driver and pedestrian safety."

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