Road safety scheme backing hope

Students taking part will soon be able to apply for driving licences

Organisers of a road safety scheme for young people who will soon be able to get behind the wheel of a car are hoping to find a backer.

The Wise Drive-Drive for Life programme is now in its eighth year and is run by Durham Police and the Durham Agency Against Crime (DAAC).

Hundreds of 16-year-olds take part in workshops, are shown crash footage and wear goggles to simulate drink driving.

It is hoped an organisation will come forward to back the scheme.

Executive manager of DAAC, Dave Young, said: "Funding at present comes from a variety of sources.

"If one major organisation was willing to come on board and back Wise Drive, it would allow us not only to consolidate but to expand.

"In educating young motorists about safety and security we hope to see far fewer of them involved in collisions or seeing their own vehicles stolen."

The programme includes a mix of practical workshops, including driving and brake reaction simulators, mock breath tests and the goggles which distort the wearer's vision and mimic the effects of trying to drive while drunk.