Warwickshire News Mine

Young Drivers are reminded to return their entries in before Monday, 17 September or miss out on the opportunity to win a Peugeot 1007 for a year. The competition has been designed to encourage safe driving practices amongst young people and reduce casualty numbers within this group. Every year about 1,000 young lives are lost on UK roads. 

The competition is being run by Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council and the Institute of Advanced Motorists and is being sponsored by Peugeot Motor Company Plc. Peugeot have committed to sponsor the competition for each of the next three years.

Young drivers aged 17-21 can enter by completing and returning an entry form available at locations across the region including schools and colleges, libraries and pubs, by telephoning 01926 418037 or by filling in a form online at http://www.coventry.gov.uk/youngdrivercompetition. 

From here 60 drivers will be shortlisted and attend a driving day on September 30 where various skills will be tested, from parking to controlling a car on the skid pan. The day will also include a drive on public roads assessed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists and a driving theory test. The best 12 drivers will then take part in a further day of driving challenges on October 14.

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this competition; an initiative which will give the participating young drivers knowledge and skills that will help them stay safe throughout their driving careers.”

Cllr Kevin Foster, from Coventry City Council, became a member of the IAM when he was 19, and said: “This is an excellent example of a major company working with local groups to improve road safety. This will help get young drivers focused on road safety and may encourage more to look at going on to improve their driving skills by becoming advanced motorists themselves.”

Peugeot’s Managing Director Pierre Louis Colin said: “If this initiative prevents one accident or serious injury it will be worth our three year investment in younger drivers.”

Christopher Bullock, Chief Executive of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “This initiative is aimed squarely at younger drivers, who are most at risk when they first get behind the wheel. We congratulate the organisers and are pleased to be a part of the team.”
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For more information contact Stephen Rumble at Warwickshire County Council on 01926 412740, or Andrew Didlick or Jodie Hurley at Peugeot on 024 7688 4257.

Link to WCC