North East road policing launch New Driver Early Intervention Scheme at Meldrum Academy

As part of a new road safety scheme, road policing officers in Aberdeenshire have this week provided education and awareness raising inputs to a group of 6th year students at Meldrum Academy.

The New Driver Early Intervention Scheme is aimed at encouraging safe driving practices amongst new and learner drivers. The scheme will target drivers between 17-25 years of age, who are statistically more likely to be involved in a collision.

On Thursday, 31 March, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service delivered a hard-hitting presentation to students at Meldrum Academy in efforts to raise awareness and encourage discussion on the consequences of dangerous driving.

More sessions are set to take place across the North East where officers are working closely with local driving instructors, schools, colleges, universities and local businesses to encourage attendance.

The scheme is being administered in partnership with Road Safety North East Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Motor Schools Association of Great Britain.

Speaking about the educational sessions, Road Policing Inspector Lorraine Mackie said:

“Too many young people are involved in serious and fatal collisions on Scottish roads. Young drivers may be familiar with the fact that speed can kill, however, statistics show that young drivers are more vulnerable on the road. Our presentation is not to lecture new drivers but to give them some knowledge and experience to drive safely. It will demonstrate the consequences for new drivers, their passengers and other road users if they drive inappropriately.

“We do a great deal of work with our partners teaching young people about the dangers of inappropriate driving, but this programme is about delivering the right messages to the right audience at the most appropriate time.

“This is why we are so excited to be delivering this piece of work with our partners. By allowing driving instructors and local businesses to signpost their students to these opportunities, we hope to supplement and address a gap in the learning journey of new drivers – by focussing on individual responsibility and informing drivers of the grave implications should they drive dangerously or carelessly.”

Rab Dickson, Director at NESTRANS and Chair of Road Safety North East Scotland, said:

“For many years, those working locally in road safety have recognised the vulnerability of young drivers and their disproportionate involvement in road traffic collisions. This is seen in our data which reveals that between 2016 and 2020 around 20% of all car drivers involved in North East road traffic collisions were young drivers, with the peak occurring among those aged between 18 and 23.

“This new approach not only engages with young people on the cusp of becoming drivers, it also seeks out those who have passed their driving test in recent years and who fall within this vulnerable age-group. Historically, this has been a difficult group to reach with road safety information and we hope that as the New Driver Scheme expands across North East Scotland, it will have a positive impact in reducing the number of young driver related collisions and casualties.”

Station commander for prevention and protection, A.C.A.M, Craig Shand said:

“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service work with a broad range of partner agencies, including Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service and local councils, to deliver road safety education and advice to help people reduce their risk of being involved in a collision. We continue to look at new ways to engage and educate drivers and raise road safety awareness to passengers.

“This new scheme will greatly benefit all road users in the area and we look forward to delivering the road safety message to as many people as possible.”

North East road policing officers are keen to hear from learner drivers, employers of new or young drivers or drivers who have passed their test within the past 2 years. For further information on the New Driver Early Intervention Scheme or to request an input delivered within your organisation or community please contact NewDriverSchemeNorthEast@scotland.police.uk