Newly qualified drivers who get on the road with a safer driving course could be in line for a £500 cash prize.
The EXCELerate Durham Young Driver Programme includes three-hours of practical in-car coaching and those who complete this will be entered into a prize draw.
Figures released by Road Safety GB North East show that one-in-four 17-year-olds who hold a driving licence will be involved in a collision.
Ros Pluck, Vice Chair of County Durham and Darlington Partnership said: “It is difficult to persuade newly qualified drivers that there is more to driving than simply passing the driving test. By introducing this prize we hope that more young drivers will be encouraged to take part in the EXCELerate practical driver coaching session.
“The three most common types of collisions young drivers and their passengers are involved in are overtaking, leaving the road and rear end collisions. This three hour session seeks to develop strategies which help the younger driver to cope with the situations leading to these types of collisions.”   The programme is supported by New College, Durham.
John Widdowson, Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham commented, “We are delighted to support EXCELerate and hope that other schools and colleges get involved and benefit as we have”.
The EXCELerate Young Driver Programme has been developed and is co-ordinated by Durham County Council’s Road Safety Team on behalf of the County Durham and Darlington Road Safety Partnership and is delivered using funding from the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme.