Essex relaunches 'Young Drivers’ pack

Essex County Council is about to launch its rewritten and redesigned young drivers’ pack for potential drivers and their parents.

"The original pack was developed through extensive research and consultation with young people," said Katie Brimley, senior road safety officer. "Over the past several years evaluation questionnaires have provided us with useful criticism, but the generally positive response indicates that we’re achieving a good balance with our target audience. By encouraging good driving habits from an early age we hope that over time this effort will contribute toward a gradual reduction in road casualties."

The new visual design is colourful and attractive and the information is written and organised so that answers on specific issues can be found more easily. The Young Drivers booklet answers many of the questions regularly asked by young people, while the booklet for Parents and Young Drivers outlines how parents can supervise and support good driving habits.

Developed for 17-year olds when they are starting to drive, the pack aims to raise awareness of the disproportionate number of accidents involving those aged 17-25 years. It is sent to every 17 year old registered with a general practitioner within the North and South Essex Health Authorities.

The booklets is accompanied by an introductory letter and evaluation form, a testimony from a driver involved in a fatal accident, a variety of information leaflets on driver training, alcohol and drug awareness, and details about current road safety campaigns.