Wokingham

‘Motorvation’, Wokingham District Council’s successful free pre-driver training event, which will be taking place at Woodley Airfield Youth and Community Centre, Hurricane Way, Woodley, on Wednesday April 4th between 9:15am and 4pm.

The day-long course for Wokingham 16 and 17-year-olds aims to raise road safety awareness before the participants 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 Wokingham participants about:

· Road safety - This session will explore what factors cause road traffic accidents and ask why 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 identifying heavy use.

· First at the scene of a crash - This session 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 Wokingham workshop looks at dealing with accidents from the perspective of the emergency services, from the experience of dragging bodies from wrecked cars to 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.

· Driving under the influence - A workshop delivered by the Thames Valley Police schools’ liaison officer that looks at the effects and consequences of driving whilst intoxicated by either alcohol or drugs. This is a serious topic delivered with humour and open discussion. Using visual impairment goggles, the session will involve role-play to simulate the impaired ability to concentrate and make vital decisions.

The final part of the Wokingham 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 supervised environment.

Motorvation is just one part of Wokingham District Council’s ongoing programme of road safety education, through highway consultants Mouchel Parkman. Nationally, one in five newly qualified drivers has a crash in the first 12 months, whilst in Wokingham district last year, 35% of all collisions causing injury involved drivers aged 17-25.

Wokingham Road safety officer Maureen Lockwood said: “These sessions have proved to be highly successful, and we’d like to encourage as many young people as possible to take advantage of a free course which will give them a head start behind the wheel.”

The courses run from 9am to 4pm 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 Wokingham road safety officer Maureen Lockwood on (0118) 936 7307 or email maureen.lockwood@mouchelparkman.com

Wokingham Borough Council