A brand new initiative for learner drivers has been put together by Jo
Winfrey Adv Dip Couns. of
‘Time Out’ Counseling Services and Ancholme Driving School in Scunthorpe, to
promote road safety for learner drivers, with particular emphasis on
ATTITUDE to driving.
The Driving Standards Agency recently reported that ‘There is increasing
evidence that young driver accidents are the result of “attitudinal
factors” as opposed to “skill deficit” factors’ ( Despatch. DSA
Magazine. April 2007) This means that even if you are an exceptionally
skilled driver, you may still cause an accident because of your ATTITUDE
on that particular day; This is the case for everyone, not just new
drivers.
In the form of a low cost 2 hour seminar that highlights the dangers of
aggressive driving, speeding, tailgating and other risky driver
behaviours, it looks at driver attitudes in detail, for example: Road
Rage and how to manage this on the roads using simple anger management
skills. It could well mean the difference between life or death on the
road.
Driving instructors will already be doing their best to promote good
driver attitude while teaching, but with the best will in the world,
learner drivers will be trying to concentrate on their driving skills,
scan the road ahead and listen to their instructor all at the same time.
It is debatable how much of what is being said is actually being taken
in. Road safety training taken in a classroom rather than on a practical
driving lesson means that the participants can give the subject their
full attention and really take the subject in.
The emphasis with driver training generally seems to be on passing the
driving test as quickly and as cheaply as possible. This is false
economy. SAFE DRIVER training in addition to practical driver training
may well prove to be cost effective, in that the learner driver starts
by developing the right attitude before they go out on the road. A
relatively new driver that I spoke to recently has just had a minor
accident because of his impatience and this is costing him £500 in
repairs. If he goes through his insurance he will almost certainly be
paying a higher premium next year.
Road safety is taught in schools and maybe again AFTER you have been
involved in an accident. Isn’t it the job of driving schools and
instructors to do their utmost to put new drivers on the road as safely
as possible? We think so, which is why this in-house training has been
put together.