Are you 'The Complete Driver' and would you like to cut your petrol costs?

5.08.46pm GMT Tue 9th Sep 2008

Alison McInnes MSP fills up in Aberdeen.

Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership (ACSP) is supporting a new road safety initiative to improve the skill levels of all drivers and to save petrol into the bargain!

The initiative is called 'The Complete Driver' and the aim of the project is to make drivers aware of how to improve their driving skill and make them 'The Complete Driver'.

Learned behaviour is the most copied and, as has been highlighted recently, bad habits can be picked up by young people who observe the driving habits of their parents, guardians or carers. Drivers may not be aware of their poor driving skills or bad habits and these can contribute to being involved in a collision on Aberdeenshire's roads.

Driving skills can always be enhanced and improved but to do that drivers need to be aware of the bad habits they may have picked up over time.

The ACSP is teaming up with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) to offer a free 'Drivecheck' to anyone who applies (normal cost £25). 'Drivecheck' is a short driving assessment aimed at everyone who is interested in safer driving. It only takes an hour and consists of a 35-40 minute drive with an IAM trained observer followed by a short feedback session where the driver will receive a written feedback form. Small tips to improve skills can make all the difference and some of the tips can lead to big savings in petrol costs. (source - IAM)

Three of the Local Community Safety Groups in South Marr, Garioch and North Marr and Formartine have allocated funding to allow up to 10 drivers from each area to take the 'Drivecheck' assessment. Anyone wanting to apply can go to the ACSP website at www.aberdeenshirecommunitysafety.org.uk click on 'The Complete Driver' link and follow the instructions.

Councillor Ron McKail, chair of the Garioch and North Marr Community Safety Group said " We are very supportive of any project which enhances the skills of drivers. The free IAM Drivecheck assessment only takes an hour but the feedback will not only save you money but will also help to make you a complete driver."

Ed Bushnell chair of the South Marr Community Safety Group said " We have actively promoted the Pass Plus initiative along with all the other local CSG's in Aberdeenshire. 'The Complete Driver' scheme is an excellent and free way to save money and improve your driving skills"

Alistair Strachan chair of the Formartine Community Safety Group said " In Formartine we have a particular road safety problem with our rural roads. A free IAM Drivecheck assessment is an easy way to improve your driving skills and we are delighted to support 'The Complete Driver' project."

Alison McInnes MSP for North East Scotland and spokesperson on Local Government and Transport said "raising driving standards is a vital component in reducing the number of collisions on our roads. When people have been drivers for a long time they can easily slip into careless driving habits. I'm sure most of us who are drivers would benefit from this kind of skills check. We are familiar with the idea of continuous improvement in our working lives, but when it comes to driving seem to be remarkably resistant to the idea that we might need to brush up our skills. So this new pilot project is very welcome - If new young drivers see that their parents and carers are willing to submit themselves to this kind of check and act on the feedback perhaps that will encourage the next generation to take a different approach to driving. Congratulations to Aberdeenshire Community Safety for developing the project"