KIDS in Birmingham are being encouraged to get behind the wheel aged just ELEVEN.
The controversial programme called Young Driver will involve 11 to 16-year-olds driving a sporty SEAT Ibiza in the NEC car park for the hour-long lessons.
They will take place after school and during holidays and were launched yesterday.
Warwick University’s Professor Kevin Morley, who previously worked for Ford and Rover, thought of the idea after research showed that one in five young people are involved in a crash during their first year of driving.
He said: “Young Driver has two objectives – to reduce the worryingly high accident rate among new drivers and to give kids a fun and exciting learning experience.
“We are delighted that our sponsors, SEAT and Admiral MultiCar, are committed to these objectives too and we all look forward to tens of thousands of young people benefiting from this initiative over the coming years.”
But Birmingham-based ROSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, urged the people behind Young Driver to focus on attitudes towards the road, rather than just the practical skills.
Duncan Vernon, road safety manager at ROSPA, said: “It is certainly important that children and teenagers have opportunities to think about road safety before they start formal driving lessons. In fact, pre-driver education is currently being developed on a national basis as part of wider reforms to the learning-to-drive process.
“While young drivers are among our most vulnerable road users, we know they often have excellent vehicle control skills and fast reactions.
“In pre-driver initiatives the most crucial thing is integrating safety messages which will help establish safe driving behaviour and attitudes towards safer driving. Without these messages, there is a danger that pre-road driving experiences could do the opposite.”
The AA welcomed the move and revealed it was about to launch a similar scheme called Pathfinder with the Under 17 Car Club, an organisation that has been teaching kids as young as 11 to drive in Warwickshire for years. AA Driving School Director Simon Douglas said: “The Under 17 Car Club has a proven record in preparing young people for safe driving.
“By providing an early introduction to key skills and attitudes, Pathfinder gives youngsters a head start towards a safe and responsible driving career.”
The lessons given by Young Driver are structured and conducted by Advanced Driving Instructors who have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.
There is no ‘test’, but the learners do get a “driver diary” which records what they have achieved. The scheme will be piloted in Birmingham and then rolled out to other cities. The lessons cost from £29 for 30 minutes and £55 for an hour.