2008 Mega Drive tour of Gwent starts at Ystrad Mynach

11 September 2008

The first session of the 2008 Mega Drive Tour started at Ystrad Mynach College on September 9^th with students from the Child Care and Early Years groups taking part.

Mega Drive is a multi-agency project between Capita Symonds Road Safety Team, Trading Standards, Red Cross, South Wales Fire and Rescue, Drugaid, Fusion, Institute of Advanced Motorists, Gwent Association of Approved Driving Instructors, and the five unitary authorities in south east Wales. The initiative is aimed at 16 – 17 year olds and is designed to educate prospective young drivers about the responsibility of driving a vehicle and give them a positive attitude before they get behind the wheel.

New young drivers between the ages of 17 and 24 are involved in a disproportionately large number of road accidents, holding 11% of the licences yet involved in 25% of collisions. The initiative aims to address this disparity and develop good driving skills in young people in Gwent.

During September and October, young people from five colleges of further education across Gwent, will be able to participate in Mega Drive. At each venue, participants will visit ten interactive workstations. They will find out about aspects which are important to driving a vehicle including: their fitness to drive a vehicle, their ability to foresee potential hazards, in-car safety, what can cause a crash in the first place and how to deal with one if they are first on the scene as well as the effects and of drugs and alcohol on driving behaviour. The session includes a 15-minute drive, under the guidance of an Approved Driving Instructor.

Hilary Fenton, Early Years Lecturer and Course Tutor said, “I think Mega Drive is an excellent scheme, all the students have enjoyed themselves a learned a great deal. It is so important that young people become aware of the responsibilities of being a car driver before they get behind a wheel for the first time.”