Young drivers can be ‘safety ambassadors’

Mid & East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership are helping young drivers across the borough to become safety ambassadors.
By Elinor Glynn
Published 9th Mar 2021, 10:00 BST
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A ‘New Driver NI’ magazine will be distributed to every student in Mid and East Antrim’s secondary schools. Aimed at novice drivers, it gives advice and information on learning to drive, passing the test, buying and insuring a car and staying safe on the road.

The magazine - by New Driver Safety Ambassador Company – will replace presentations and talks that would usually have taken place pre Covid-19 pandemic. There is also an online workshop on safe motoring, and a competition.

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Some 10,000 students from 90 schools a year would usually hear all about road safety, so this innovative way of sharing these messages means nobody will miss out on key information that can help students learning to drive.

Wendy Kerr, Vice Chair of MEA PCSP pictured alongside Stephen Savage from New Driver NI and Cllr John McDermott, MEA PCSP ChairWendy Kerr, Vice Chair of MEA PCSP pictured alongside Stephen Savage from New Driver NI and Cllr John McDermott, MEA PCSP Chair
Wendy Kerr, Vice Chair of MEA PCSP pictured alongside Stephen Savage from New Driver NI and Cllr John McDermott, MEA PCSP Chair

Mid & East Antrim PCSP Chair, Cr John McDermott said: “This will hopefully help to reassure parents as well that their children are still being told of the dangers of driving, as well as the taste of independence it can provide. Too many young people are still losing their lives or being seriously injured on Northern Ireland’s roads. We want to see these figures reduce as one death is too many.”

Stephen Savage, Project Manager at New Driver Safety Ambassadors, said: The magazine is one element, another was setting an ambitious target to get 5,000 Share the Road to Zero pledges online, and to help us achieve this we have cash prizes and a brand new car up for grabs.

“To enter you just have to watch the online presentation, make the Safe Motoring Pledge and answer a few quick questions. You will then be entered into a monthly draw for a £100 prize.”

The programme is free for schools.

Head to www.newdriverni.com/safemotoringfor more information or to learn more about the programme contact Stephen Savage on T: 07793 198100 or email [email protected]