RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
October 7, 2003
YOUNG DRIVERS AIM TO BE BEST IN THE UK
Forty young motorists from throughout the UK will be bidding for the title Young Driver of the Year on Sunday.
They will be taking part in the final of a competition organised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Advanced Drivers Association aimed at motorists up to 24 years-old – the group most at risk on our roads. Prizes will include entry and training to race in the Uniroyal Team Challenge at a major UK circuit and CIS insurance vouchers to the value of £1,000.
The finalists at the Silverstone circuit on October 12, won through from eight regional heats earlier this year. There is also a special section for teenage drivers.
Bob Smalley, RoSPA’s Chief Driving Examiner, said: “Young motorists are most at risk of death and serious injury and we hope this competition will encourage them to be good drivers.
“The finalists will face a tough one-hour road test and then undergo skid training, a manoeuvrability exercise and a Highway Code test.”
It is the twelfth year of the competition, which was founded through the Catherine Kenyon Trust Young Driver of the Year. RoSPA’s growing involvement meant that this was the first time regional events had been arranged.
The competitors are: James Vey from Hitchin; Matt Storey, Ruislip; Paul Blunden, Barking; Vanessa Barents, Poole; Nicholas Thornhill, Hillbridge; David Hine, Hitchin; George Dann, Spilsby; Benjamin Bean, Ipswich; Nick Leither, Haverhill; Robert Gisby, Chelmsford; Nikki Page, Cardiff; Craig Shaw, Hereford; Ben Stephenson, Cheltenham; Richard Wheadon, Cardiff; Ben Chandler, Cardiff; Thomas Milne, Hamilton; Pauline McAlpine, Larbert; Elliot Crosbie, Edinburgh; Barry Noble, Fife; Jonathan Cummings, Newtonabbey, Northern Ireland; Martin Wrigley, Warrington; Karl Moreland, Malton; Dawn Tideswell, Crewe; Katie Mercer, Bury; Don Timmons, Aston-by-Budworth; Chris Bravington, Castle Bromwich; Simon Williams, Nottingham; Rebecca Hinton, Tamworth; Andrew Ng, Walsall; Paul Guest, Birmingham; Zoe Davies, Stevenage; Paul Wyhinny, Coventry; Jean Mallock, Northampton; Ben Loeber, Northampton; Tim Stokes, Harlington; Matthew Baker, Taunton; Andrew Spillman, Paignton; Ian Richardson, Westbury; David Chivers, Brixham; and Matt Childs, Barnstaple.
CIS has backed the event as part of its commitment to improve road safety and reduce accidents. Other prizes: a Jordan grand prix team testing day, U-POL web-TV sets, Uniroyal tyres, Mintex and Autoglym car accessories, £500 worth of prizes from the Maine Group for teenagers and Green Flag membership.
