Driver training soars for local law-breakers

The TTC Group, which re-educates more than 200,000 of such drivers each year throughout the UK, has revealed that in the past year alone, 100 local motorists attended the eight Ballymena courses which were held.

Of that total, 64 were court referrals - having been caught drink driving in 2008 but unable to attend a course until 2009.

Chairman Graham Wynn OBE, who started the company with wife Jenny in 1993, said: “Too many people are being killed or seriously injured but by educating motorists to stick to speed limits, avoid drugs and alcohol and be aware of road dangers, it is having an effect on people’s driving.”

“We are equipping them with the skills to stay safe on our roads,” said Graham, a former Shropshire JP who was awarded the OBE for his road safety work.

The road is now wide open for the TTC Group to expand even further as the UK’s leading provider of rehabilitation courses for convicted drink drivers, one of the main providers of speed awareness courses and the National Driver Improvement Scheme, as well as a leading corporate driver trainer.

The TTC Group delivers around one million hours of driver training at 120 nationwide venues each year and is responsible for educating many of the nation’s drivers.

In Northern Ireland, the current course locations are - Ballymena, Belfast, Coleraine, Cookstown, Enniskillen, Londonderry, Newry, Omagh and Portadown.

In a unique scheme, drink drivers from Northern Ireland who volunteer to attend TTC run alcohol education classes held in fire stations are contributing

towards the cost of an interactive driving simulator for Northern Ireland.

Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighters will use the portable simulator at road safety events throughout 2010 to improve driving skills and make young drivers more aware

of hazards.