Young Newry drivers to benefit from road safety course

A course that aims to improve road safety for recently qualified drivers will take place in Newry later this month.

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The initiative is designed to give young people help and advice on how to avoid potential road collisions.  The course is a mixture of theory and on road training.  The course is being delivered by the Newry and Mourne Road Safety committee.

Patricia O’Neill said “The committee aims to run programmes for vulnerable road users.  New drivers are over represented in collision statistics and a number of young people from this region have lost their lives in recent years, so we really wanted to deliver a project for this age group.

“The course is free and open to residents in Newry and Mourne aged 17 to 24 and who have passed their driving test in the last four years.  On completion of the course participants will receive a £25 shopping voucher and a year’s free UK and Ireland Breakdown service.

The scheme includes a class room based three hour driver awareness session (which will be held on Wednesday 16th November 6pm to 9pm), a one-to-one drive with an Approved Driving Instructor (90 minutes) and an optional follow-up on road session (60 minutes).  Issues like driving on rural roads, dual carriageways and motorways will be covered as well as the main causation factors in young driver collisions.

The project is funded by the Department for Infrastructure through the 2016/17 Road Safety Grant Scheme.

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard welcomed the initiative saying: “Young people, particularly 17-24 year olds, continue to be the group most at risk from death and serious injury on our roads. The evidence tells us, that good choices by road users, saves lives. This project presents a great complement to our efforts to encourage young drivers to always pay attention, slow down, never drive after consuming alcohol or drugs and to always wear a seatbelt, so that they may enjoy a lifetime of safe motoring.”    

If you would like to sign up for the course, please contact Patricia O’Neill on 07990  940152 or email namrsc@gmail.com for a registration form.