FIREFIGHTERS in Greater Manchester are hoping to improve the safety of new young drivers through a video competition.
They are encouraging those who have just passed their test to make a short video pledge about how they will be a good driver.
The winner will receive a block of Pass Plus driving lessons courtesy of the AA Driving School.
Statistics show that newly qualified young drivers are more at risk of being involved in an accident in the first 12 months after passing their test, and last year 40 per cent of all killed or seriously injured passengers were being driven at night by a newly qualified driver.
GMFRS want to drive down that figure and have teamed up with the AA Driving School.
Chair of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor David Acton said: “The GMFRS Drive Pledge competition is really exciting and a dynamic way to encourage new young drivers to use social media and video to become safer drivers.
“GMFRS firefighters are called out to many road traffic collisions and statistically newly qualified drivers are more at risk of being involved in an accident in the year after passing their tests.
“The Pass Plus lessons courtesy of the AA are a fantastic prize for one lucky winner and could even help to bring the cost of a new driver’s car insurance down.”
Jim Kirkwood, managing director of AA Driving School, said: “Driving is a skill for life and we are passionate about making sure young drivers are equipped to stay safe on the roads for the rest of their driving life.
“We are really pleased to be working with the GMFRS to promote road safety to young drivers and hope that the winner enjoys their prize.”
To win, all you have to do is record a short video (no more than 30 seconds long) saying what you’re going to pledge to do to be a good driver.
Maybe you’ll pledge to stay below the speed limits or pledge to avoid distractions like using a mobile phone.
Perhaps you’ll pledge to always make sure that everyone in your car will wear a seatbelt.
Whatever your pledge, share the link to your video with @manchesterfire on Twitter and include the hashtag – #GMFRSdrivesafe
The prize, which includes three free two hour Pass Plus driving lessons courtesy of the AA Driving School, is for one lucky new driver aged between 17 and 25.
Pass Plus lessons with the AA Driving School must be taken by new drivers within 12 months of passing their driving test.
The closing date for entries is Friday, March 8, 2013. The winner will be contacted on Twitter and the judges’ decision will be final.
To find out more about the competition go to /community_work/drive_safely.aspx