Partnership event educates young drivers on road safety

This week the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership will host a Young Driver event to help put youngsters on the right road to safety.

More than 3,500 young people aged between 16 and 25 have been killed or seriously injured on Cambridgeshire roads in the last five years.

The event, which has been held over the past two years, will once again return to Huntingdon Racecourse on Wednesday and Thursday this week (June 28 and 29) to educate young people on road safety in an attempt to drive down this statistic.

Matt Staton, of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Road Safety Partnership, said: “We’ve been really pleased with the success of previous events and hope to make this year even better.

“It’ll be a great chance for young people to get involved and gain the knowledge and skills they need to help protect themselves and their friends as road users.

“Whether they’re already driving, learning to drive, a passenger or public transport user, there will be something there for everyone.”

More than 30 organisations, including emergency services and motoring experts, will attend the event and be on hand to offer information and advice.

Around 1,200 students from across the county will be able to try their hand at various activities and even be the first to trial the new award-winning social enterprise, Drive iQ.

The free e-learning platform assesses individuals ‘Drive iQ’ through a range of interactive online modules including distractions, alcohol and drugs, seatbelts, thrill seeking, eye scanning and perception.

Funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite, Drive iQ aims to change the way young people begin learning to drive by providing the online learning package to schools and colleges. Young drivers will have the chance acquire knowledge that will inform their decision-making processes to reduce risk taking and misconceptions.

Visitors will also be able to get involved in various other activities throughout the two-day event, including:

– having a go on one of five crash car simulators

– trialling the new Drive iQ e-learning platform

– trying their hand at the batak wall

– getting driving test snippets from DVSA Driving instructors

– learning more about young people’s insurance

– trying the latest mocktails for a good night out while being safe to drive

– gaining motorcycle/moped safety experience including a skid bike

– testing their knowledge and gaining experience of general car maintenance

– visiting the sustainable transport area and try out the calorie gallery

– meeting the Global Action team

– talking to MAGPAS to find out what you could do to help at the scene of an accident

– testing their acting skills in a highly interactive theatre show

– talking to the emergency service staff who respond to crashes and staff from the Road Victims’ Trust who help support those affected afterwards

– seeing a live demonstration of stopping distances

– testing their reactions with remote control cars with the Drugs and Alcohol team