The force behind the force

Driver safety education expert AA DriveTech is the principal provider of the training and presentation materials that comprise the Thames Valley Police & Safer Roads Partnership Young Drivers Scheme. That scheme has now won the ‘Young Drivers’ category of the prestigious 2009 Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards.

In the first year since the scheme was launched in April 2008 some 4000 young drivers have completed the course, and follow-up assessment has shown that re-offending rates are 60% better than would have been expected had a fixed penalty notice been issued.

“We are proud to have contributed to a driver education scheme that is clearly not only working well but is also helping to influence for the better such a vulnerable group” says AA DriveTech Managing Director, Jim Kirkwood. “Using our considerable experience with other sectors of the driving community we worked hard to make the course palatable for what are generally considered to be a sceptical group of participants and it looks as if we hit on the right formula.”

The Young Drivers scheme which won the award is one of 35 different driver educational schemes that AA DriveTech runs for 14 police forces throughout the UK. The company also re-trains a considerable number of corporate drivers who have cause to drive as part of their work duties.