Young Driver Skid Training At Alconbury Driving Centre
5 Apr 2012 | No Comments | posted by admin | in Blog
Alconbury Driving Centre offers training for young drivers even before they have secured their driving license.
ITV Anglia Tonight visited the centre to report on this service and you can see their report here with the transcript below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFJNIkXRB1c
Female presenter: ‘…driving skills before they’ve even passed their test’
Male presenter: ‘Instructors are using a ‘skid-car’ to simulate dangerous situations. Our reporter Mathew Hudson has had a go.’
Mathew Hudson (narration): ‘It looks like fun, and it is, but it might also help keep you alive. And here’s a stark fact for you; drivers ages 17 to 25 are four times more likely to lose control of the wheel than anyone else. Driving lessons teach the basics, but not how to drive in dangerous conditions. This new scheme provides teenagers with some of the skills you need before they ever drive on a road.’
Terry Turner: ‘We run programmes for 16 year old, non-licence holders, and from the moment they come here and we start teaching them advanced driving methods. So that we know that when they’re actually on the road they should be better than average drivers. It’s a tremendous opportunity for them.’
Matthew Hudson (narration): ‘The disused runway at the former RAF Alconbury, near Huntingdon makes an ideal skid pan. The special skid-car is mounted on a hydraulic frame. The instructor can lift the weight of the car off the tyres, replicating wet or icy conditions. Even at low speed the effect is stunning.’
Matthew Hudson: ‘Of course the beauty of this scheme is it’s able to simulate a number of different driving conditions for drivers, without actually having to wait for the rain or the snow to come down. And until you’ve had a go here you really don’t realise just what difference a certain amount of ice on the road can make. You don’t realise it, perhaps, until it’s too late.’
Matthew Hudson (narration): ‘The charity behind the scheme subsidises classes for schools by hosting corporate events. Because it’s on the airfield, even 15 and 16 year olds can have a go; invaluable experience for when they start driving for real.’
Ben Hobbs: ‘We all know already how to drive properly, and so we should be able to get through our driving test a lot easier and quicker.’
Matthew Hudson (narration): ‘Young irresponsible drivers can kill other people as well as themselves. Amy Gonzales was killed by a drunk 21 year old racing through St Neots on Christmas morning 2004. Her parents are helping to promote the initiative.’
Kevin Gonzales: ‘We’ve seen first-hand the carnage and pain & suffering that can be caused by driving a car in the wrong way. And any initiative like this, anyway we can get the message across we’re delighted to be involved with.’
Matthew Hudson (narration): ‘Teaching teenagers how to deal with a sudden skid could save their life. Better to go out of control here, than on a busy motorway. Matthew Hudson, Anglia News, at Alconbury, near Huntingdon.’