THREE years after the new-look police and crime plan for Gloucestershire was launched, its first locally-based initiative which was funded to help young drivers is to be expanded nationwide.

The Pathfinder project is run by The Under 17 Car Club Charitable Trust in partnership with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The aim is to cut the road casualty rate amongst novice drivers who have a disproportionate risk of death or serious injury in road traffic collisions and is based on more than 40 years’ experience of educating novice drivers.

The latest week-long course began on Monday this week.

According to Department for Transport research, taking part in the Pathfinder Project reduces the risk of a young driver being involved in a crash from the national average of one in four to one in 17.

Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl said: “The figures speak for themselves. I wish I had known about it when my children were learning to drive as they were both involved in crashes.

“I have said before that I would like all sixth forms in the county to find time after exams to devote time to safe and social driving. This course really should be made available throughout the country and I will be at the Pathfinder course later this week to discuss how we can achieve that”.

Accompanying the PCC will be Gloucestershire’s Assistant Chief Constable Richard Berry; West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore; Sarah Sillars, CEO, and Pat Doughty, operations director, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

More than 30 teenagers from across Gloucestershire, with their parents, will be participating in the current Pathfinder event all this week at Throckmorton Airfield, Pinvin.

Paul Silverwood, Chair of The Under 17 Car Club Charitable Trust said: “We are delighted that the Institute of Advanced Motorists is taking an interest in our work. Along with the Police and Crime Commissioners and representatives from two police forces, we will be exploring how this unique project can be taken to a national audience so that every teenager may benefit."