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PROGRAMME 16 POLICY

A YOUNG PEOPLE'S DRIVING PROGRAMME at ALCONBURY DRIVING CENTRE

OBJECTIVES

  1. The programme is designed to attract enthusiastic 16 year olds by offering them the opportunity to drive on a private driving area. the programme will then focus their enthusiasm and help them to develop instinctive driving techniques that should result in their eventually becoming a ‘better than average driver’.
  2. From the outset, the programme provides the opportunity to learn advanced driving techniques.
  3. The acquisition of a driving licence is a major step for most young people and this programme provides knowledge and skills that not only help in that regard but should also ensure that the young driver does not subsequently lose the licence by way of disqualification for motoring offences.

FUNDAMENTALS

  1. The programme aims to develop an understanding of factors that allow a driver to anticipate and avoid potentially dangerous situations. To function in that way a driver must be capable of making fine judgements in a rapidly changing situation, but novice drivers generally lack that skill. If novice drivers can acquire those skills they are less likely to be involved in a collision during their first year of independent driving (a period when they are known to be at greatest risk.)
  2. All activities take place under the supervision of a fully qualified instructor, except where risk analysis suggests a higher ratio is appropriate. Adult supervision will maintain overall safety levels and facilitate learning in a positive, stimulating and good humoured way.
  3. Every activity is carried out in the knowledge that the students are novice drivers who have widely varying levels of confidence and capability.
  4. The exploration of individual levels of risk taking is essential if the importance of bad driver attitude, as a factor in road collisions, is to be understood. Adult supervisers will not therefore suppress all risk taking and will allow it to continue to the extent it is necessary for ‘experiential learning’. The professionals involved are experienced and skilled in such situations and risk taking will be stopped well before it becomes dangerous.

OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

  1. The commitment and co-operation of a student is an essential pre-requisite to participation on the Programme.
  2. Where students behave in such a way as to place themselves or anyone else at risk of injury, they will not be allowed to continue and their actions will immediately be referred to one of the contact names on the application form.
  3. Although the whole programme operates within a considerate, tolerant and supportive environment, there is an expectation that individual students will understand the need to respect the staff and their fellow students. Students who show themselves unable to do so will not be allowed to continue and their actions will be referred to one of the contact names on the application form.
  4. The programme includes a rewards and incentives element, to encourage positive attitude and reflect achievement.
  5. All adults engaged in delivering the programme are background checked at enhanced level with the Criminal Records Bureau.
  6. The nomination form requests details of any allergies or other health problems of any kind that may arise during the tuition or which could be affected by the stresses of learning to drive. It is crucially important that full information is provided.

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
Health and Safety

  1. The maximum speed that any student will drive is 29mph.
    1. During demonstrations by expert drivers, some vehicles will exceed 29 mph but never exceed 60 mph.
    2. Teaching the importance of skid avoidance is crucial and necessitates vehicles skidding at speeds up to 50 mph, whilst under the control of expert drivers.
    3. Teaching the importance of using vehicle controls smoothly and understanding the effects of changing road and weather conditions, necessitates some students skidding their vehicles at speeds of less than 29 mph.
  2. Students will only drive cars fitted with dual controls and whilst they are under the direct supervision of qualified instructors.
  3. Seat belts will be worn at all times by every student in a car.
  4. The premises and vehicles used by students are all No Smoking Areas.
  5. Students found at any time during the programme to have alcohol or illegal drugs in their possession or who are thought, with reasonable cause, to be under the influence of either, will not be allowed to continue.
  6. The nature of the activities undertaken means that all students must be safety conscious, attentive, responsive and well behaved. Any student who persistently, or wilfully, fails to act in that way will not be allowed to continue.

Processes

The Alconbury Driving Programme involves the following processes, all of which are undertaken within the Practice and Procedure rules set out above:

  1. Driving dual controlled cars, under the supervision of designated instructors, on a private, self contained driving area.
  2. Being driven on the public road by designated instructors, to develop ‘road reading’ skills and to observe driver behaviour generally.
  3. Using fire extinguishers.
  4. Working in groups to develop knowledge and practical skills in Driving and Motor Vehicle Studies.
  5. Working in groups to develop communication skills, interpersonal skills and practical ability.
  6. Forensic examination of road collisions to understand the common causes.
  7. Being involved in discussion groups, and researching subjects for debate by use of the internet, CD ROMs, books, and mechanical exhibits.
  8. Using a Driving Simulator.