Avon and Somerset Constabulary - Safer Drivers Make Safer Roads

Safer Drivers Make Safer Roads

The Avon and Somerset Constabulary have two unique programmes that engage with young drivers and riders and explore how our roads can be made safer.

Many road safety educational programmes are classroom based and not always appealing to young road users.

Project KickStart and Choice and Consequence use Go-Karts to demonstrate the theory.

Project KickStart is delivered to those who ride or wish to ride Motorcycles and Mopeds.

Choice and Consequence is delivered to those who drive or wish to drive Cars and Vans or Lorries.

The programmes are delivered to young people aged between 16 and 25 years old with the aim of keeping them safe on the road.

Sessions last approximately two hours and are delivered to groups of 8 to 16 young people at an indoor Karting Centre located at Cheddar, Somerset.

Those attending the sessions have either elected to attend the programme as an alternative to prosecution after committing a variety of driving offences or have attended as non offenders as part of a proactive campaign to engage with vulnerable road users.

The Police led initiative also benefits from informative inputs from the Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and in the case of Project KickStart Motorcycle safety coordinators from the two Road Safety Partnerships.

The programme was developed by Police Constable Dave Adams of the Avon and Somerset Road Policing unit in 2008. Since then it has gone from strength to strength engaging with hundreds of young riders and drivers.

The Programme

Those attending the programmes benefit from both classroom based discussions, accompanied by presentations and two 10 minute track session using a Go-Karts.

The mix of education and use of Go-Karts not only appeals to this age group, but also demonstrates the need to be able to identify and negotiate hazards.

The classroom based session covers aspects of law, the responsibilities of owning and driving a vehicle and the consequences of failing to do so.

Karting

This is a structured integral part of the programme.

The first ten minutes of track time allows a unique opportunity to look at each person's driving attitudes and approach to driving / riding. Many mistakes are made during this session, which allows the instructors to carry out a structured debrief. Every incident is discussed and reasons established. Those that spin, make contact with other Karts or safety barriers identify the reasons, which are often associated with excess speed, lack of planning or ability. Frustrations, such as being Slowed Down, "Tailgated" or "Cut Up" are also related to their day to day driving experiences.

At the end of the 10 minutes each driver is given a printout of their lap times to show areas of inconsistency.

Following the debrief and a further "classroom" session the group return to the track for a further 10 minutes behind the wheel of a Go-Kart. This time the focus is on incident free driving and not speed. Cooperative use of the track is encouraged as is defensive driving.

On the completion of this track session a further debrief takes place. A noticeable improvement is seen within each drivers and the number of incidents are dramatically reduced. A printout of lap times are issued and discussed. With few exceptions the times are quicker as the Karts are kept under control and incidents vastly reduced.

Defensive driving is further discussed in the classroom before the session is concluded.

Each session is concluded by a hard hitting video which consolidates everything covered during the programme.

Every attendee leaves feedback on their experience and views.

A selection of Feedback

Becky from Bristol; "Very good session. Well presented and good fun. I would highly recommend this being shown to people before even learning to drive. It really makes you think and the story at the end really hits".

Matt from Bristol; "Really useful – positive attitude in trying to help. A good chance to talk and ask questions. Better than anything you would get on the roadside .

Steve from Bristol; "This session was excellent. It was fun and made the point of our choices and the consequences. This should be part of gaining a driving licence"

Stefano form Chertsey; "Very good. I strongly believe this is the way forward to make the roads safer. I have had fun – Therefore have taken the course in rather than forgetting it afterwards. Please do this all over the country

Gary from Bristol; "Good time. Full of information. Has changed my view on driving".

Ryan Bristol; "Very good session. I had fun and learnt it's not about speed and aggression"

Sam from Somerset; "This works better than the points system as it makes you think and the Karting makes you remember"

Aubrey from Frome; "It's a cool session. Shows me how little I actually know about driving"

The Professionals Views

"Project KickStart provides young people with a dynamic approach to improving their safety and knowledge. This programme grasps their attention and teaches them things that a classroom session alone couldn't achieve". - Jim Newman, Coordinator for motorcycling of the Somerset Road Safety Partnership.

"Having attended the full Choice and Consequence experience I feel passionately that this has the ability to have a real impact on driver behaviour and targets arguably our most vulnerable drivers.

This is a hard-hitting educational tool that has targeted its audience perfectly. The feedback from those who have attended these sessions is extremely positive" - Polly King, Chief Inspector of the Avon and Somerset Road Policing Unit.

More information

To find out more please contact PC Dave Adams on-line or by ringing 101.