Latest news with #YoungDriver
The Courier
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Courier
'Driving lessons' for kids as young as nine to start in Dundee
Dundee kids as young as nine will be able to take 'driving lessons' at the Overgate next month. Level seven of the shopping centre's car park will be transformed for Young Driver, which launches on July 5. Young Driver, which has a 4.7 out of five rating on Trustpilot, teaches under-17s how to drive in dual-controlled cars in a bid to increase driver safety. Youngsters can get behind the wheel to practice braking, gear changes and steering. They'll learn how to park, plus how to navigate junctions, roundabouts and traffic lights before 17, the minimum age for driving lessons on UK roads. Driving events will be held on certain weekends and during school holidays. Lessons will be open to youngsters with disabilities. Dundee is Young Driver's seventh Scottish location, following Lochgelly Raceway in Fife in May 2024. Ian Mulingani, managing director at Young Driver, said: 'We are excited to be launching our first venue in Dundee – our seventh in Scotland. 'We'll offer lots of different driving activities for young people, whether they're a beginner or have already had a few lessons at another of our sites. 'Training drivers over a longer period of time allows youngsters to have a solid understanding of how to drive a car before they get anywhere near a real road. 'Research shows that creates a safer driver – and we believe it creates safer pedestrians and cyclists too. 'But the lessons are also lots of fun. 'They're a great general confidence boost for teens and pre-teens, who take the responsibility very seriously. 'When they're reverse parking at the end of the first lesson, it's often a shock for parents.' Young Driver lessons in Dundee start from £46.99 for half an hour, and must be booked in advance.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Award-winning Suzuki Swift hybrid a hit with 'young' drivers
Suzuki's budget-priced Swift hybrid has just won a sixth major award. With prices starting from £19,699, the compact five-seater flexible hatchback was named best supermini at the Fleet World Great British Fleet Awards. Powered by an efficient 1.2litre 3-cylinder 82hp mild hybrid petrol engine, it offers money-saving 64mpg fuel efficiency, low 99g/km CO2 emissions, a top speed of 103mph and 0 to 62mph acceleration in 12.5 seconds and is available as a five-gear manual or CVT automatic with an all-wheel drive manual option, and in Motion or Ultra trim levels (a £1,250 step up). The Swift's other five awards include Top Gear compact car of year. And customers are proving fast-learners. So popular is the hybrid that specialist under-17s driver-training company, Young Driver, recently took delivery of the first of its 170-strong fleet of new Suzuki Swifts that will see youngsters aged ten to 17 given more than 150,000 lessons a year in the model, pictured here with early-learner Bonnie Booth-Radford, ten, of Solihull.
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Mum divides opinion as she lets daughter, 10, DRIVE her Suzuki Swift around town
Kimberley Booth-Radford, from Solihull, West Midlands, believes little Bonnie has benefited from "a real confidence boost" having been able to drive the Suzuki Swift A mum's decision to allow her ten-year-old daughter to drive her Suzuki Swift has divided opinion. Kimberley Booth-Radford believes she has given Bonnie "a real confidence boost" by giving her the opportunity to operate the car. Now, Bonnie drives her mother and her driving instructor around town. She's not legally allowed on the road until she's 17, but she can operate the vehicle as long as someone "responsible and aged 21 or over" is in the car with her. Kimberley, who lives in Solihull, West Midlands, said: "Bonnie is quite petite and obviously there are young people having lessons that are a bit older. So when some of the bigger [kids] or their parents see her behind the wheel, they sometimes look quite surprised. "She looks so little when driving around in a proper car. But she jumps in and she is off. It's amazing how natural and calm she is getting behind the wheel at such a young age. I wish this had been around when I was a child." Bonnie, who her mum says always been fascinated by cars, got behind the wheel for the first time when she was just seven years old. When someone in the family mentioned Young Driver, a driving school for those under 17, Kimberley surprised her with some lessons and she's developed the interest since. The youngster started in the Firefly car, which is specifically designed for four to nine year olds. Then, she moved on to driving a standard car. It costs £46.99 per 30 minute session, with the 10-year-old having three to date " and many more booked in. Kimberley, who works in IT, said: "I know she's learning valuable skills which will be really helpful once she's 17. It's a lot of fun, too, and a real confidence boost to be able to do something so grown-up. "She's never tried to jump in my car, though I think it won't be long until she is a better driver than me. I'm impressed by how much she's learned, and in a few years' time, she'll ace her actual test. There have been a few times where she's pointed out mistakes I'm making, but I welcome that. She's still got a lot of learning to do yet, though!" Kimberley hopes these lessons will now instil a sense of responsibility when Bonnie takes to the road as an adult. She said: "If more people encouraged their children to do this, it'll reduce the accident rate for young drivers. "And it teaches them how to be in control of a car the proper way. It's great that she can tell her friends that she's driven a real car too. Not many kids get to say that." Bonnie, while enjoying it, does find the lessons quite challenging. She said: "Learning the gear stick, indicators and looking around all at once is hard work. But I really enjoy driving like my mum does. The instructors make me feel so comfortable, and I'm not nervous at all. I can't wait to get my own car one day." But Kimberley concedes other drivers react in different ways - though are often "surprised" - to see Bonnie on the roads in "a proper car".
