'Motorvation' to drive more carefully in Wokingham
Every day three young people die in traffic accidents on Britain’s roads - and one in three newly qualified drivers will be involved in an accident within their first two years of driving.
But young drivers in the Wokingham Borough will have a ‘Motorvation’ to be safe this autumn. They can learn how to minimise the risks associated with their first few years behind the wheel thanks to a workshop provided by Wokingham Borough Council and their highway consultants Mouchel Parkman, in conjunction with Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue and the Highways Agency.
On October 24 from 9am until 3.45pm, Motorvation workshops will be held at Woodley Airfield Youth Centre, Hurricane Way, offering information and practical advice for young people learning to drive or newly qualified.
The day will cover the hazards facing new drivers, the legal requirements when using a motor vehicle on public roads, the effect on family and community when a young person is involved in a traffic-related incident and the issues that can arise when purchasing a second-hand vehicle. There will also be a presentation from the Highways Agency about motorway driving, which is a new addition to the Motorvation programme.
Wokingham Road safety officer Katie Webb said: “The workshops offer participants a lot of valuable help. They include an opportunity to experience first hand what it is like to operate a motor vehicle in controlled safe surroundings - the first opportunity that many participants will have to drive a real car.
“There are also photographs and video footage of road traffic accidents in the workshops which can be a little shocking. Life is precious and needs taking seriously, this can only be achieved if we demonstrate how fragile we as human beings are. A car weighs on average one tonne and can wipe out whole families in one go. Road users need to appreciate that to own a motor vehicle is to be handed a huge responsibility.”
Wokingham Participants also learn basic first aid skills and essential knowledge on raising the alarm to get help to victims as soon as possible if they are first at the scene of an accident. And the session on second-hand cars helps participants learn to find a car’s Vehicle Identification Number, spot cut n’ shuts, recognise when a vehicle has been involved in an accident, recognise heavy use and make better judgements on what is a genuine safe vehicle.
Another session looks at how drugs affect driving, both for a driver and a passenger, and the problems of peer pressure whilst driving. This workshop suggests solutions for coping in situations where passengers are difficult to control.
Executive member for highways and transport Wokingham Cllr Keith Baker said: “This workshop will equip the participants with the necessary confidence and awareness that could help save a life in the event of an accident. But I hope it will go further than that and prevent some of these accidents from happening in the first place, by raising young people’s awareness of what is involved with being responsible for a car and its passengers. I urge young people who want to drive to get in touch and take advantage of this excellent workshop.”
Anyone aged 15 to 19 years old can attend Motorvation. To book a ticket contact road safety officer Katie Webb on (0118) 936 7301 or at katie.webb@mouchelparkman.com
But young drivers in the Wokingham Borough will have a ‘Motorvation’ to be safe this autumn. They can learn how to minimise the risks associated with their first few years behind the wheel thanks to a workshop provided by Wokingham Borough Council and their highway consultants Mouchel Parkman, in conjunction with Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue and the Highways Agency.
On October 24 from 9am until 3.45pm, Motorvation workshops will be held at Woodley Airfield Youth Centre, Hurricane Way, offering information and practical advice for young people learning to drive or newly qualified.
The day will cover the hazards facing new drivers, the legal requirements when using a motor vehicle on public roads, the effect on family and community when a young person is involved in a traffic-related incident and the issues that can arise when purchasing a second-hand vehicle. There will also be a presentation from the Highways Agency about motorway driving, which is a new addition to the Motorvation programme.
Wokingham Road safety officer Katie Webb said: “The workshops offer participants a lot of valuable help. They include an opportunity to experience first hand what it is like to operate a motor vehicle in controlled safe surroundings - the first opportunity that many participants will have to drive a real car.
“There are also photographs and video footage of road traffic accidents in the workshops which can be a little shocking. Life is precious and needs taking seriously, this can only be achieved if we demonstrate how fragile we as human beings are. A car weighs on average one tonne and can wipe out whole families in one go. Road users need to appreciate that to own a motor vehicle is to be handed a huge responsibility.”
Wokingham Participants also learn basic first aid skills and essential knowledge on raising the alarm to get help to victims as soon as possible if they are first at the scene of an accident. And the session on second-hand cars helps participants learn to find a car’s Vehicle Identification Number, spot cut n’ shuts, recognise when a vehicle has been involved in an accident, recognise heavy use and make better judgements on what is a genuine safe vehicle.
Another session looks at how drugs affect driving, both for a driver and a passenger, and the problems of peer pressure whilst driving. This workshop suggests solutions for coping in situations where passengers are difficult to control.
Executive member for highways and transport Wokingham Cllr Keith Baker said: “This workshop will equip the participants with the necessary confidence and awareness that could help save a life in the event of an accident. But I hope it will go further than that and prevent some of these accidents from happening in the first place, by raising young people’s awareness of what is involved with being responsible for a car and its passengers. I urge young people who want to drive to get in touch and take advantage of this excellent workshop.”
Anyone aged 15 to 19 years old can attend Motorvation. To book a ticket contact road safety officer Katie Webb on (0118) 936 7301 or at katie.webb@mouchelparkman.com
Wokingham Borough Council
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