Wokingham

Young Wokingham people looking to get motoring are once again being asked to get in gear for ‘Motorvation’, Wokingham District Council’s annual free pre-driver training event.

This will be the sixth time that Wokingham district council has held the event which this year is taking place at Woodley Airfield Youth and Community Centre, Hurricane Way, Woodley, on Wednesday July 26 and Wednesday August 23.

The day-long Wokingham courses for 16 and 17-year-olds aim to raise road safety awareness before the young people even get behind a steering wheel. The courses will cover all aspects of driving theory, using mock tests and video footage, and will culminate in a driving lesson for all participants.

With four one-hour, hands-on, intensive workshops, the day will teach participants about:

* Road safety - This session will ask what factors cause road traffic accidents and why do so many young drivers, and in particular young men, make up increasing statistics regarding serious injury and death on roads? Discussions will cover drink driving, speed, driving whilst tired, using mobile phones, seat belts, driving without insurance and obtaining and keeping a driving licence.

* ‘Honest Arry’s’ – Buying a second hand car. This workshop is divided into halves, the first looking at what types of car to purchase and the second inspecting a vehicle offered for sale. It covers finding the vehicle identification number, spotting cut ‘n’ shuts, recognising when a vehicle has been involved in an accident and recognising heavy use.

* First at the scene of a crash - This workshop is delivered in partnership with the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and aims to raise awareness of how an accident can affect the lives of not just those involved, but those of friends, family and the wider community. The session looks at how it is for the emergency services and what it is like for them to drag bodies from wrecked cars and how they cope with informing relatives. The session also offers basic first aid skills and essential knowledge on raising the alarm to get help to victims as soon as possible.

* Steetwise – This workshop is based on a board game modelled around a year in the life of a new motorist. It is played in teams and the aim is to reach the end of a game with a clean licence, some spare cash and more knowledge about being a safe road user.

The final part of the day - and, at previous events, the most popular - is a driving practical in which every participant will have the chance to drive a dual-control vehicle in a controlled environment.

Executive member for highways and transport Wokingham Cllr Anthony Pollock said: “Educational activities such as this are essential to improving road safety awareness and reducing traffic accidents. They aim to start people off with good habits at an early stage and reinforcing the road safety message by looking at the actual effects of an accident. Hopefully this will encourage a generation of well-informed and safe road users.”

Motorvation is just one part of Wokingham District Council’s ongoing programme of road safety education, through consultants Mouchel Parkman. One in three newly qualified drivers are involved in an accident during their first two years of driving. Since the New Drivers’ Act 1997, over 41,000 new drivers have had their licences revoked. In the Wokingham district, 24% of speed related injury collisions involved drivers between the ages of 17 and 21.

The Wokingham courses run from 9am to 4.40pm and places are free, but need to be booked in advance and are limited in numbers. For more information or to book a place, contact Mouchel Parkman’s road safety officer Maureen Lockwood on (0118) 936 7307 or email maureen.lockwood@mouchelparkman.com

Wokingham District Council