Young Drivers!

Peter from Roadster! experiences Young Driver, a company giving KIDS the chance to learn to drive a REAL CAR.

Being able to drive might just be one of the greatest REAL superpowers… Many kids are really excited to get into driving, and for good reason! No more waiting for buses or relying on grown-ups. You can visit friends in different towns, explore hidden places, and go on epic adventures! But with great power comes great responsibility. Before can be let loose you need to LEARN the knowledge, skills and attitude to be able to drive a car confidently and keep yourself and others safe. The trouble is, for a young and inexperienced 17 year old who has never driven a car before, there is a LOT to suddenly have to start thinking about:  how to control the car (like steering and braking); how to understand the road (like traffic lights, signs and road markings; special tricks (like parking without bumping anything!) how to drive on different types of roads;  how to spot dangers; how to avoid BEING a danger,,, phew! The list goes on!  

Lots of driving instructors think kids under 17 actually learn BETTER! Enthusiastic kids are like sponges, soaking up all the info about how cars work and how to be safe on the road. Young Driver, is a company giving KIDS the chance to learn to drive a REAL CAR by providing driving experiences for children from the age of 10 in dual-controlled cars on private land.  It uses UK Government approved driving instructors to provide children with responsible learning, in a fun, safe, and controlled environment… Young Driver isn’t about driving on busy streets - it's all about learning the basics in a safe & fun place!

Young Driver believe that giving children the chance to learn driving skills from an earlier age, will help to make them safer, more confident and more considerate drivers in the future. Young Driver is about helping children to develop the right driving attitudes through fun and safe hands-on experiences and lessons, giving them a head start before even applying for their provisional licence.  

THE EXPERIENCE

What better way to mark a tenth birthday than a first lesson with Young Driver? “I didn’t know what to expect” said Roadster’s Motorsport Editor, Peter “Before doing Young Driver I was nervous and worried I might do something wrong, but the instructor (Lance) helped me and I was extremely happy and excited. I couldn’t wait to try the next skills he showed me!”

Young Driver teaches children to look, think and act like proper drivers right from the start! Activities are broken into three groups:

Group 1 - This group covers getting started. You learn to prepare yourself and your car for driving. You learn about pre-drive safety checks, and learn how to make the car go, steer, stop, speed up and slow down.

Group 2 - More advanced - you learn about judgement and control. Learning to stop, how big the car is, how close things are, how to position the car on the road and how to judge obstacles are covered. 

Group 3 - Thinking like a driver. Learners drive on a road system with other Young Driver traffic. Drivers have to meet other traffic safely, cross the path of other cars and deal with any obstructions in the road.

Group 4 - This is about developing your control skills much more. It includes things like turning the car around, parking, and slalom challenges. 

Group 5 - Speed, Distance & Risks. This group really helps you perform manoeuvres - just like you would in the real world! Moving in tight spaces, stopping distances, emergency stops, and an obstacle course are covered! 

There are lots of different tasks within each group, and some are quite difficult to master.  Drivers are given a “Drive Diary” at their first lesson, and they build their skills over time, making their way through the activities at their own pace and developing their driving ability in a natural way. 

Peter only had a short half hour starter lesson, so he didn’t get to cover everything, but it is amazing how much he DID cover in that time.  He thought it was a lot of fun. “After I was chuffed that I got to drive a REAL car. It was the best day ever!” 

Peter has already had follow up sessions. “It was a life changing experience” he says.  ROADSTER! Highly recommends it!

THE CAR:

Young Driver use a fleet of dual controlled Vauxhall Corsa “SE Premium” cars to teach the next generation of drivers.

Vauxhall Corsa’s are very popular with driving schools because they are perfect for learner drivers! They have lightweight steering for easy maneuverability, have excellent all around visibility, helping the learner driver see everything that is going on around them, and have smooth controls which are responsive to your touch - giving confidence to those just starting out.

(Since this article was published Young Driver have switched to a fleet of Suzuki Swifts)

The Circuit: Gaydon, Warwickshire

Young Driver operate at venues across the UK but Roadster! visited this circuit close to the British Motor Museum. An enclosed, safe piece of private land well away from the dangers of public roads, it offers a perfect and realistic road system including crossings, roundabouts and junctions. “It was like a giant playmat for real cars!” It had things zebra crossings, bends, speed bumps, a car park and even a mini roundabout! A perfect place to learn about gear changing, clutch control, braking and steering! 

With over 70 venues around the United Kingdom,  there’s bound to be a Young Driver centre near you! Check out www.YoungDriver.com or their app!

The Video:

While parents get to watch their children take part in a young Driver lesson from a safe spot away from the circuit, they do miss out on what is going on INSIDE the car. Similarly, children are so busy concentrating and having a good time it is sometimes difficult to remember what they did! 

Young Driver have come to the rescue with their in-car filming service! For a small additional fee, parents can buy an SD memory card recording of the experience, so it is always available to share with friends and family!

(Abridged version of a feature in Roadster! Issue 6)