Young farmers launch national road safety campaign
A nationwide campaign is being launched by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) today, to reduce the number of young drivers dying on rural roads.
The “Drive it Home” campaign is being launched at the ProDrive Centre in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, where young racing drivers will take young farmers out on a wet grip activity course to give them a greater understanding of the risks of driving on challenging road surfaces such as mud, snow and ice.
Recent 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. In the past two weeks two YFC members have been killed in a rural road traffic incident, making it a poignant moment to launch the campaign.
“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,” said Milly Wastie, chairman of the NFYFC.
“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.”
“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.”
Milly Wastie, NFYFC chairman
Matt Baker, Countryfile presenter and president of the NFYFC, also voiced his support for the campaign: “This is a fantastic initiative. I grew up living and working in a remote community, so I know how vital it is for young people to be able to drive to get to work and meet with friends. I also know how those roads can be treacherous.”
At today’s launch there will be a minute’s silence at 10.45am to remember the young people connected with Young Farmers’ Clubs who have recently lost their lives in rural road incidents and in memory of all the members who have died in road incidents in the NFYFC’s 80 year history.
Following the launch of the campaign, which is supported by insurer NFU Mutual, all 657 YFC clubs across the UK will receive some sort of road safety training in 2013.
Read more about the Drive it Home road safety campaign, including case studies of those devastated by rural road accidents.