Donington hosts safety challenge for Derbyshire's young drivers

18 June 2009

Students and Rolls-Royce apprentices joined forces on Wednesday 17 June to compete in Derby and Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership’s Young Driver Safety Challenge.

During the event at Donington Park, participants formed eight teams then spent the day learning safe driving techniques. Everyone who took part received emergency reaction training and learned how to corner safely. They also learned how to survive in wet and icy conditions using a specially-adapted skid car. 

When they weren’t behind the wheel, team members learnt how to spot when a tyre needs replacing and listened to presentations about drink driving and crash investigation. 

Matt Herrick from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service leads on young driver issues for the road safety partnership. He said: “The aim of the day was to prepare these young drivers for some of the challenges they will face during their driving careers. 

"The road safety partnership exists to reduce deaths and injuries on Derbyshire roads. We believe our young driver safety challenge will help us to achieve this goal because it has given nearly 150 people the opportunity to improve their skills in a safe, controlled environment."

The 26 students who took part in the event were A-level pupils from Long Eaton School, Friesland School in Sandiacre and Wilsthorpe Business and Enterprise College in Long Eaton. 

The 118 Rolls-Royce apprentices who took part in the event were all aged between 17 and 21. 

Donington Park kindly allowed the partnership to use its facilities for free for the young driver challenge and the vehicles used during the event were kindly provided by Ford UK. 

Donington Park Chief Executive Simon Gillett said: “Performance and safety are two of the key issues for any proficient driver, be it on the public road, or here at Donington Park on the race circuit and that is why we are pleased to be able to make our facilities freely available for this project.

"We are able to provide an environment in which these young people are able to learn, refine techniques, and develop skills. By putting what they have learnt into practice, I am certain they will be better equipped for driving within our community."