Young Driver, a driver training scheme aiming to instil good driving habits long before they're legally allowed to get behind the wheel, is launching its second location in Gloucestershire.
Coming this July 2025, children aged nine to 17 in Gloucestershire can head to South Cerney Airfield to learn the basics of driving with a focus on safety and responsibility in a dual-controlled Suzuki Swift, under the expert supervision of fully qualified instructors.
Statistically, one in five newly qualified drivers crashes within six months of passing their driving test, yet for those who have taken the Young Drivers course, that rate drops dramatically by more than 80 per cent.
Utilising the full track within the airfield, Young Driver has created its own road system with traffic signs, roundabouts and junctions. Having delivered more than 1.5 million lessons at more than 70 private venues across the country, the scheme allows youngsters to work on a range of driving skills and manoeuvres, such as gear changes, braking, parking and steering — without the pressures of public roads.
Managing director at Young Driver, Ian Mulingani, said: 'We are excited to be launching a brilliant new venue at South Cerney Airfield. It’s a huge space, so we’ll be able to offer lots of different driving activities for young people, whether they’re a beginner or have already had a few lessons at another of our venues.
'Training drivers over a longer period of time allows youngsters to have a solid understanding of how to drive a car before they get anywhere near a real road. Research shows that creates a safer driver — and we believe it creates safer pedestrians and cyclists too.
'But the lessons are also lots of fun and they’re a great general confidence boost for teens and pre-teens, who take the responsibility very seriously. When they’re reverse parking at the end of the first lesson, it’s often a shock for parents!'
Lessons for children aged nine to 17 — including tuition for disabled young people — start from Sunday 20 July 2025, with 30 or 60 minute lessons available to book from £46.99 in advance on the Young Driver website.
