Driving forwards!

The Council will offer free driving assessment for young drivers to improve road safety.

The City of York Council is the first ever local authority to join up with the UK's leading road safety charity and give young drivers a chance to boost their confidence and awareness on our roads, completely free of charge.

Up to 300 drivers aged 17 to 26 could benefit from the York Momentum scheme within the next two years, as long as they live or work in York. The Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM) course is officially launched this week by council staff and members of the charity in the road safety team.

Members of the council are encouraging individuals and businesses alike to sign up to the scheme to promote this fantastic opportunity to their young drivers. The course is tailor made for young people, as long as they've passed their basic driving test. It comprises of two parts: an interactive online assessment, and an on-road session with an IAM examiner.

There is no exam and no risk of failure for this course; it offers a quick way to improve the confidence, safety and road awareness of young drivers on York roads. The course usually costs £40 per person, but is being funded through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund from the Department of Transport instead.

Councillor Dave Merrett, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability, said: "I encourage young York drivers to contact the council as soon as possible and take advantage of this free course, as it's on a first come first served basis.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "This initiative is a good example of the way councils can work in partnership with voluntary organisations to provide services that are increasingly more difficult to provide amidst budget cuts.

"York council recognises the importance of safe driving and the safety of young drivers."

To find out more visit http://www.york.gov.uk/transport/Road_safety/Road_safety_campaigns/youngdrivers/  or email momentum@york.gov.uk

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