What is it?
Driving Ambition is a ½ day, Multi Agency Young Driver Road Safety Education Intervention aimed at pre and young drivers.
This half day event aims to provide 5th & 6th year pupils, who have started driving or who are about to commence driving lessons, with informative and practical information.
Each of the agencies involved have developed a carefully structured 25 minute set relevant to young drivers. These 6 different sets are delivered sequentially to pupils over a morning session. Pupils are also shown a two part DVD recounting a story of a crash victim in Ullapool.
Who delivers it?
Driving Ambition was first brought to the Highlands & Islands by Road Safety Officers from Highland Council & Northern Constabulary in 2005 and piloted for 2 years. The Officers got the idea from attending a similar scheme being run in Grampian, and then developed it further with assistance from the agencies within the Highland Road Safety Working Group (HRSWG).
The agencies/individuals involved with the creation and organisation of the event are Highland Council, Northern Constabulary, Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service, British Red Cross, Driving Instructors and Mechanics.
Why run it?
Road Safety is an issue that affects everyone in the Highlands & Islands. The cost in suffering and economic terms caused by road crashes is enormous. Each Fatality in Great Britain now costs the community £1,585,510 however the human cost of a life lost simply cannot be valued. Each serious accident costs £178,160 and each slight accident costs £13,740. The average cost of all casualties is £47,740.*
In line with Scotland’s National Road Safety Framework, “Go Safe on Scotland’s Roads it’s Everyone’s Responsibility”, Young Drivers is a high priority area for the Highland Road Safety Working Group.
The graph below outlines the progress that has been made since 1998 in reducing the number of Young Drivers involved in Road Traffic Accidents in the Highland area.
Where is it run?
Driving Ambition is run at Secondary Schools throughout the Highlands & Islands being delivered to both S5 & S6 pupils.
When is it run?
The half day sessions are run on an annual basis at the discretion of the schools and the team delivering the local Driving Ambition Initiative.
Keeping it relevant….
Driving Ambition is regularly evaluated to monitor the impact and effects on the audience targeted. All sets are frequently looked at by members of the HRSWG and are kept up to date to provide pupils with current information.
* Source: Road Accidents Scotland 2009