Coventry And Warwickshire Young Driver Of The Year Competition Winner Presented With Brand New Peugeot 107

COVENTRY, UNITED KINGDOM – October 20, 2008: Karl Fowler, 21, was last night crowned winner of the second Coventry and Warwickshire Young Driver of the Year Competition sponsored by Peugeot Motor Company Plc. Karl was presented the keys to his prize, a Peugeot 107, by Andy Sutton, Director, Public Relations Peugeot Motor Company Plc and Quentin Willson, broadcaster and journalist at a presentation ceremony at Peugeot’s HQ at Pinley House, Coventry last night.

The competition has been run by Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, MIRA and the Institute of Advanced Motorists and is sponsored by Peugeot Motor Company Plc. Peugeot has committed to sponsor the competition for a third year in 2009.

The competition is designed to encourage safe driving practices amongst young people and reduce casualty numbers within this group. Every year about 1,000 young lives are lost on UK roads.

From the hundreds of competition entrants, 50 drivers were shortlisted to attend a driving day on September 28 at MIRA in north Warwickshire. Skills tested ranged from parking to controlling a car on a wet handling area. The day also included an assessed drive by the Institute of Advanced Motorists and a driving theory test.

The top 12 drivers qualified for the competition final, another day of driving challenges which took place on Sunday, also at MIRA.

Competition winner Karl Fowler said: “I’m so pleased I entered the competition. I’ve won a fabulous brand new Peugeot 107, had a lot of fun on the driving days and got some really useful advice and feedback on my driving from the MIRA and IAM instructors. It’s been a great experience. I’d encourage other young drivers to enter this competition next year and I’d also recommend getting some extra driver training. As I’ve discovered, professional driver training can help you to become a better driver.”

The standard of driving shown by the finalists was very impressive, however Karl just edged out the competition by demonstrating some very assured and confident driving.

Cllr Kevin Foster, from Coventry City Council became a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists when he was 19 and said: “This is an excellent example of a major company working with local groups to improve road safety. The feedback from the young drivers who completed the practical driving challenges has been very positive and they all feel that they have become better drivers as a result.”

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this competition; an initiative which is giving the participating young drivers knowledge and skills that will help them stay safe throughout their driving careers.”

Peugeot’s Managing Director Pierre Louis Colin said: “If this initiative prevents one accident or serious injury it will be worth our three year investment in younger drivers.”