Formula One star Hamilton launches safe driving scheme

FORMULA One sensation Lewis Hamilton helped launch a road safety campaign at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge on Sunday. RoadSense is an educational initiative offering school children from as young as 14 the opportunity to learn how to stay safe behind the wheel of a car. The scheme follows on from Mercedes Benz’s driving academy – also headed up by 24-year-old Hamilton – and is being introduced in response to government targets to reduce the number of road deaths and injuries among children and young people by at least 50% by 2020. Year 10 students, aged between 14 and 15 years old, from Woking High School were the first to take part in the program last week. Former world champion Hamilton said: “Its all about being in control so giving you that experience up front before you actually get to having your test and becoming road legal is key to reducing accidents.” The scheme, piloted in Surrey, will initially be offered to 5,000 local pupils, with the aim of rolling it out nationally by the end of next year. Surrey County Council leader Andrew Povey said: “Road safety is an issue in Surrey. “We’ve done some public survey work with the police and it does show that the top concern for people in Surrey is antisocial driving. “That incorporates speeding, mobile phone usage, poor parking, tailgating.” He added: “School children are the drivers of the future so it is vital we educate them about the importance of responsible driving.” Offered to schools as an add-on to their existing curriculum, RoadSense will provide students with a half-day interactive experience. The 30-minute driving session will also involve ‘real life’ risks and situations including music distractions and texting while behind the wheel of a car. Hamilton said: “I think the Driving Academy is a great initiative. My brother comes down here. He’s 17 and they’re going to help him go through learning before he starts lessons. “It’s good fun and it’s a cool school trip out. It’s the coolest school trip you could possibly do.” Hamilton also said he hopes to teach children the lessons he learnt the hard way. “They always say that when you’re 17, you’re bound to have your first shunt and I did due to carelessness, due to inexperience and due to not being responsible enough,” he said. “These kids can have these experiences here, which will help them…

Read Article @ Surrey Advertiser

Posted by admin 7 December 2009

Post A Comment