Published: Thursday, 24th May 2018
A new incentive is being offered to young people who take part in the Drivewise Borders scheme.
Around 140 young people aged 17 to 25 have sat the IAM RoadSmart advanced driver course since it was introduced in the Scottish Borders in 2014, providing them with additional skills to help them become better drivers.
The Borders is one of the only areas in Scotland to refund the full £149 fee for any young person, upon them passing the course.
Thanks to a new sponsorship with Knockhill, all successful candidates who pass each month will now have their name entered in a prize draw to win a day of skid car training at the Fife racing circuit.
It is hoped the new incentive will encourage even more young drivers to take the course, helping to keep local roads safe.
Facts and figures
- Figures have shown that in the last two years, there has been a 10 per cent decrease in the number of young people being involved in serious and fatal accidents in the Borders.
- Drivewise Borders scheme includes Police Scotland, us, IAM RoadSmart, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, Transport Scotland and former racing champion John Cleland, who runs the Galashiels-based Volvo dealership group.
- The initiative aims to provide road safety training for a series of age groups, and includes basic driving tuition for under 17s and driving review sessions for over 65s.
Advanced driver James Dalziel, 18 from Peebles
“I felt a safer driver after taking the course. While a number of people I know have been involved in accidents within a year of driving, I managed not to, and I do believe it is because of the IAM course.
“My insurance has also dropped by a lot and that is another real benefit.”
Chief Inspector Andy McLean, Local Area Commander for the Scottish Borders
“This is a fantastic offer by Knockhill, which gives the winning young driver each month the chance to find out how it feels if a car skids in cold or wet weather, in a safe but fun environment.
“As well as Drivewise Borders offering a full refund for each young driver upon passing the course and potential for reduced car insurance, the advanced driver scheme also provides a great opportunity to boost confidence and knowledge.”
Councillor Watson McAteer, Chairman of the Scottish Borders Police, Fire and Rescue and Safer Communities Board
“Through Drivewise Borders, the Council and partners have targeted younger and older driver groups who tend to be more at risk of being involved in an accident on our roads.
“The advanced driver course allows young people to improve their skills, and I would encourage relatives of young drivers in particular to sign them up for the scheme.
“The Council is delighted to be involved in Drivewise Borders and will continue to work with partners to engage with various road user groups to improve the quality and standard of driving and riding on local roads.”
John Cleland
“The aim of the advanced driver course is to simply make our roads safer and reduce the number of young people involved in serious and fatal accidents.
“The sponsorship by Knockhill is a fantastic gesture and one we hope will lead to an increase in young drivers taking the course and improving their skills.”
More information is available on Drivewise Borders.
Flickr
Photos are available at our Flickr page.