A new campaign to reduce the number of young driver deaths on rural roads has been launched by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC).
The Drive it Home campaign was launched at the ProDrive Centre in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Young racing drivers from Drive Doctors took young farmers out on a wet grip activity to give them a greater understanding of the risks of driving on challenging road surfaces such as mud, snow and ice and how to reduce these risks.
Statistics show that rural young drivers are 37% more likely to have an injury collision on a rural road than those who live in an urban area (Road Safety Analysis 2012). In the last two weeks, two of the Federation’s members were killed in a rural road traffic incident.
The majority of NFYFC’s 24,000 members live and work in rural communities putting them in a high risk category for incidents on rural roads. The lack of public transport links in many of these areas mean many NFYFC members have little option but to start driving young.
The campaign is being supported by insurer NFU Mutual to create hundreds of rural driving ambassadors who can speak to young people in their own language and inspire a generation of drivers about the inherent risks and responsible driving skills needed on rural roads.
The Association of British Insurers research shows that over a quarter (27%) of motor personal injury insurance claims over £500,000 resulted from a crash involving a driver aged between 17-24.
Milly Wastie, Chairman of the NFYFC, said: “As one of the largest rural youth organisations in the UK, we want our members to make a real difference and become ambassadors for safer driving within their rural communities and peer groups. When I was 17 years old, I lost a friend in a rural road incident. It was the first funeral I had ever attended and to be for someone my own age was heartbreaking. His death could have been avoided by some simple training on how to tackle different driving conditions on rural roads.
“Having travelled around the country visiting different Young Farmers’ Clubs there is always a memorial trophy or competition to remember somebody who lost their life in a car crash. Young Farmers are determined to change young driver attitudes and save lives on our rural roads.”
Jeremy Diston from NFU Mutual said: "By working with the NFYFC on the Drive It Home Campaign we hope we can create hundreds of 'rural driving ambassadors.’ As the UK's leading rural insurer NFU Mutual understands the needs and concerns of those living in rural areas, and is determined to take a proactive approach in helping them to tackle the issues which affect them most.
“Nowhere is this more important than in the area of rural road safety where by working with communities to change driver behaviour and campaigning for wider safety improvements we can literally save lives and prevent serious injuries.”
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