Youth Empowerment and Resilience (YEAR) project, has received financial support from DOE Road Safety Grant scheme and the Big Lottery to provide ‘Drive for Life’, an accredited training course. “With so many young people wanting to learn to drive, but who also become involved in collisions either as drivers or passengers, we wanted to give young people the opportunity to educate themselves to become more aware of not only their limitations as drivers, but also the impact of irresponsible driving on their families, friends and the local community” said Michele Loughery, YEAR Project Coordinator.
Drive for Life’s main aim is to improve the knowledge and awareness of potential drivers to the freedom and independence that driving brings, coupled with the extreme dangers that it will expose them to, whilst behind the wheel; along with a better understanding of the PSNI’s and DOE Road Safety Departments requirements to improve the drive to save lives. Sessions covered in this course include; applying for a driving licence, an awareness of the hazard perception test and theory test criteria, car modifications and the human/financial costs of driving.

“Driving is an enjoyable experience and we want
to inform and enhance this to help young people enjoy a lifetime of safe motoring. However, this new-found freedom needs to be handled with extreme responsibility. Educating young people and influencing attitudes and behaviours towards road safety is vital; and the first step towards achieving this is to instil good road user attitudes and behaviours in young people. What is learnt and put into practice at a young age forms the basis of behaviour in later life”.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan
YEAR is a Causeway Rural and Urban Network project funded by the Big Lottery. This five year intervention project is supported by a multi-agency framework to develop marginalised young people to empower them to make key and informed lifestyle choices. If you would like any more information on this course or the YEAR project please contact Michele on tel: 02870344934 or email: michele@crun.org