Friday, August 10, 2012
A young driver competition
There’s nothing I like more than a good competition, and Mercedes-Benz have launched one I like the sound of. Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is looking for the best young driver in Britain.
Young driver, oh, well that cuts me out of the running straight away then – you might think.
But wait! The Terms and Conditions simply state that you have to be 16 years old or older, and at least 1.5 meters tall. I double checked, and there is indeed a 24+ category for entrants.
The winners from each age catagory will enjoy a full year as a Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy VIP – not a bad prize at all!
Being a VIP with the Academy will mean that you get invitations to exclusive events, mingle with the rich and famous, and have opportunities to drive the newest Mercedes-Benz vehicles around.
I, for one, already know I’ll be entering ‐ I’ve been watching the Olympics and I’m feeling competitive. Bring it on!
Photo © garryknight via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Britain, competition, drive, Driving Academy, Mercedes-Benz, prize, vehicle, VIP, young driver
Friday, February 17, 2012
Silver drivers
As a young driver, with all your friends passing their practical tests and finding freedom on the roads, it must be easy at times to feel like young people make up a large majority of road users in Britain.
You’d be wrong though. Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency show that in fact, the number of elderly motorists over the age of 80 far surpasses the number of 17 to 19s behind the wheel!
Only about 682,000 drivers up to the age of 19 hold a full licence in comparison to the one million over 80s still negotiating the UK’s road network.
Furthermore, they drive in just as safe a manner as 25 to 29 year olds and suffer three times fewer severe injuries or deaths on the highway than the 17 to 19 age group.
A spokesperson for the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) states, “Those who wish to continue driving beyond the age of 70 should only be prevented from doing so if there are compelling reasons.
“Rather than seeking to prevent older people from driving, we should make them more aware of the risks they face and offer them driving assessments to help them eliminate bad habits.”
Your 80th birthday might seem a good long way away, but it’s nice to know that your car won’t be snatched from you when you reach the big eight zero.
Photo © Todyotter via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: 80, birthday, Britain, Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency, full licence, IAM, Institute of Advanced Motorists, practical test, road, road user, young driver