Action taken to stop road deaths with Xccelerate

Every year in the United Kingdom more than 647 people aged between 17 and 25 are either killed or seriously injured in road crashes.

Brake, a road safety charity, says while only one in eight drivers in the UK is aged 25 or under, one in three drivers who die on the roads is in that same age group.

Over-confidence, poor hazard perception skills and general inexperience can all lead to making bad decisions and putting driver lives, or the lives of other road users or passengers, at risk.

To try and tackle these issues Xccelerate (brand name spelling), a comprehensive pre-driver training education programme, has been developed by Bedford Borough Council in conjunction with Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service.

Xccelerate is a thought-provoking programme that encourages responsible attitudes and behaviour whether as a driver or passenger in any vehicle and is targeted at teenagers before they learn to drive. The course offers a selection of workshops including practical driving so young people can experience first hand what it is like to drive a car in safe, controlled surroundings with a professional driving instructor.

Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for the Environment and Transport, said: “Far too many young people die on roads across the UK every year. Although many are killed in tragic accidents there is still more we can do to prepare young people for the challenges they will face when out on the roads.

“By spending time with young people before they start learning to drive I believe we can plant a seed to make sure they understand the great responsibilities that are upon them when they get behind the wheel.”

Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service Northern Area Commander Tony Rogers said: “All too often our crews see at first hand the tragic consequences of road traffic collisions.

“In fact we rescue seven times as many people from road traffic incidents as we do from fires. A large number of these road accidents involve young drivers. One of our key priorities is working with young people to keep them safe, so we see this as a valuable project to support.”

Free places were offered on the course via Facebook. It was staged at Kempston Fire Station and BLFRS Training Centre. Photos show young people taking part on 27th July.