Training that could save young lives

Every week almost 90 drivers aged 17 to 24 are killed or seriously injured on the roads in Britain.

Young drivers suffer more single accidents by losing control of their vehicle and are seven-and-a-half times more likely to be involved in a crash than other drivers.

In an attempt to reduce these statistics, teachers at East Brighton College of Media Arts (Comart) asked the co-ordinators of the Responsible Driving Project on the Whitehawk Estate in Brighton to put some of the students on the road to safer driving.

The Responsible Driving Project was started two years ago with cash from eb4u (East Brighton For You), a Government scheme to regenerate East Brighton. It is run in conjunction with Youth Clubs Sussex.

The community of East Brighton has experienced problems in recent years with teenagers driving illegally.

Gordon Cross, project co-ordinator for the project, said: "The project is to give them an opportunity to take the first steps towards safe and legal driving and healthy attitudes on the road."

The project usually works with young people from East Brighton who have often been involved with car crime or accidents.

However, teachers at Comart approached the project organisers to get students an early education on responsible motoring.

Mr Cross, who worked previously with East Sussex County Council's accident investigation unit, said the course empowered young people to make decisions for themselves and others in a safe way.

The project is open to young people aged 14-25 from East Brighton and young people are referred to it from employment groups, probation, schools and other community agencies.

The course is attracting wide-ranging interest, including a group of youth workers from Japan and the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who visited the project's headquarters at the Wellesbourne Centre, in Whitehawk, Brighton.

Anyone interested in the course should call 01273 821789 or 01273 243980.