Skoda Teams Up With Young Driver To Help Kids Get Behind The Wheel

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – Oct 29, 2013: SKODA is the official car partner of Young Driver, the UK’s only nationwide provider of driving lessons for children aged 11 to 17.

The organisation will take delivery of 55 ŠKODA Citigo cars this month, with an identical number arriving during December. They will be used at Young Driver’s 30 training sites around the UK for the next two years.

“Young Driver chose the ŠKODA Citigo because the car is stylish, economical and easy to operate, making it perfect for teaching young people to drive,” said Kim Stanton, Director for Young Driver.

Alasdair Stewart, Brand Director for ŠKODA UK, commented: “ŠKODA is delighted to be the official car supplier for Young Driver. The Citigo is the perfect car for people to get their first taste of motoring, and I’m thrilled we’re involved in an excellent initiative with a proven road safety record.”

Young Driver is sponsored by Admiral and has delivered more than 100,000 lessons to date, all on traffic-free areas such as shopping centre car parks, schools and Academies. Complete and realistic road systems are created including junctions and roundabouts, road signs, traffic lights and parking areas, giving youngsters a head-start in learning car control skills and safe motoring.

This year alone, the Young Driver programme will deliver 60,000 lessons and has just started ‘Young Driver At School’, an initiative which takes driving lessons to the playground.

“It’s vital work because young people are the most vulnerable on the road,” added Kim. “One in five will crash within six months of passing their test. Young Driver can reduce inexperienced motorists’ accident rate by 50%.”

The ŠKODA Citigo cars have been ordered in eye-catching red and white, the Young Driver colours. They are all fitted with dual controls for safer learning, and some will come with automatic transmissions and hand controls for use by disabled youngsters, including wheelchair-users.

ŠKODA’s involvement will grow during 2014 with Young Driver events being planned in retailer showrooms. ŠKODA staff and customers will also benefit from a 10% discount on lessons for their children.