Race track course is saving lives, says instructor

5 days ago

Jo HollisLeicester

Teenagers are allowed to drive around the race track at Mallory Park under supervision as part of the course

BBC Two cars driving past some cones on a racing circuit — Teenagers are allowed to drive around the race track at Mallory Park under supervision as part of the course

A driving instructor says a training course that allows teenagers to get behind the wheel on a motor racing circuit is "saving lives".

The Pathfinders Initiative allows teenagers aged between 15 and 17 to drive under supervision at Mallory Park in Leicestershire.

The five-day course is being held at the circuit this week during February half term.

Tony Moore, an advanced driving instructor and one of the volunteers on the Pathfinder course said: "I'm confident that lives have been saved because of this initiative."

Jess, 17, who has been driving with her father James, said the course "gives you the confidence to make mistakes in a safe environment"

Woman in glasses smiling at the camera next to a man in glasses smiling at the camera in outdoor setting — Jess, 17, who has been driving with her father James, said the course "gives you the confidence to make mistakes in a safe environment"

Advanced driving instructors deliver part of the course but for the majority of it teenagers drive under the supervision of their parent or guardian.

Jess, 17, who has been taking part in the course, said: "It gives you the confidence to make mistakes in a safe environment where there's not other road users."

Her father James added: "I took her round an industrial estate one weekend and it was good, there was no traffic, but here you've got the set up and it's safe.

"We live in a rural area so this is an essential skill.

"For safety it's only going to be of benefit to her and anyone she's on the road with."

Tony Moore, an advanced driving instructor and volunteer with the Pathfinder Initiative says it "saves lives"

Man with moustache and glasses and hi-vis vest behind steering wheel, looking at camera. — Tony Moore, an advanced driving instructor and volunteer with the Pathfinder Initiative says it "saves lives"

The five-day course costs £400 but the Police and Crime Commissioner in Leicestershire has contributed funding to allow some drivers to apply for financial support.

Moore, a volunteer instructor, said: "It's [driving] the most dangerous thing that we will voluntarily do in our day-to-day lives, so if there's any way we can reduce the danger to them, we will."

Road safety charity Brake claims on average one in five new drivers are involved in a collision during their first year on the road.

Moore said there was evidence the course reduces the participant's risk of being in a crash.

"We contact our graduates a year after the course and find out if they've been driving and those figures go down to around one in 23 having an accident in that first year.

"I'm confident that lives have been saved because of this initiative," he said.

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