Toyota Ireland Partnership with Irish School of Excellence
| Issue | Road safety |
|---|---|
| Aim | To encourage young drivers to learn how to drive in a responsible manner, through completion of a comprehensive driver education programme. |
| Area | Ireland |
Duration
Since 2008
Organisation
Toyota Ireland and the Irish School of Excellence Ltd
Funding
€10,000 from TFfE
Two Toyota Yaris cars from Toyota Ireland
Two Toyota Yaris cars from Toyota Ireland
Testimonial
At the start of the programme each student is asked to select their first car. It is not surprising that most select high-powered flashy cars, a choice driven solely by image and not by the needs and requirements of a beginner driver."
"By the end of the course, with the knowledge that they have gained, students choose their first car again. This time the selection is usually based on practicalities such as engine size, safety features, tax, insurance and how much they can afford to spend."
"The aim of the Irish School of Excellence programme is to ensure that every student in Ireland is aware that driving with due care for all road users is an enormous responsibility. They also gain an in-depth knowledge of the rules of the road, the penalty points system and, through their visits to the courts, the consequences of their actions. Lastly, they gain the experience of driving and utilising the lessons they learnt in the classroom."
"The reality is that taking action now to educate the young drivers of tomorrow correctly will ensure we have safer roads and thereby save lives.
Kieran O'Brien, Irish School of Excellence
Toyota Ireland Partnership with Irish School of Excellence
The Irish School of Excellence aims to improve the quality of driving by targeting younger drivers while they are still at school. The School, which is supported by Toyota, believes that younger drivers continue to be a weak link in automotive safety. To improve the situation, the School has developed a comprehensive driver education programme for high schools. The programme is targeted at 16 to 18 year olds. During the 2008/2009 academic year, they hope to educate 1,000 young adults from 99 schools around Ireland.
The programme includes a theoretical component of 14 class lessons, and a practical component which includes ten driving lessons. The theoretical prepares the prospective drivers for the Irish Driver Theory Test which they need to pass to obtain their provisional licence. All aspects of driver education are covered including driver safety, applying for a licence, technical matters, accidents, insurance, costs of running a car, and environmentally friendly driving. On completion of this part of the course, students receive a certificate from the Irish School of Excellence and can apply for their provisional driving licence.
Once they have a licence, the practical part of the course can be undertaken. Students are given ten lessons with a qualified driving instructor to prepare them for their driving test. Toyota Ireland has supplied two Toyota Yaris vehicles that are used for demonstration and teaching purposes. The Irish Police Force and the Courts Services of Ireland also give road safety training to the students during this part of the course. When a student completes the theoretical and practical lessons and passes their driving test, they are entitled to six months free comprehensive insurance from Hibernian Insurance.
The programme includes a theoretical component of 14 class lessons, and a practical component which includes ten driving lessons. The theoretical prepares the prospective drivers for the Irish Driver Theory Test which they need to pass to obtain their provisional licence. All aspects of driver education are covered including driver safety, applying for a licence, technical matters, accidents, insurance, costs of running a car, and environmentally friendly driving. On completion of this part of the course, students receive a certificate from the Irish School of Excellence and can apply for their provisional driving licence.
Once they have a licence, the practical part of the course can be undertaken. Students are given ten lessons with a qualified driving instructor to prepare them for their driving test. Toyota Ireland has supplied two Toyota Yaris vehicles that are used for demonstration and teaching purposes. The Irish Police Force and the Courts Services of Ireland also give road safety training to the students during this part of the course. When a student completes the theoretical and practical lessons and passes their driving test, they are entitled to six months free comprehensive insurance from Hibernian Insurance.
Results
Training has been carried out in ten schools in Dublin schools, 22 in Leinster, 44 in Munster and 15 in Connacht/Ulster
Further information
For more information, please visit the website of the Irish School of Excellence (www.irishsoe.com/) and Toyota Ireland (www.toyota.ie/about/corporate-social-responsibility/)
Contact
Irish School of Excellence
Kieran O'Brien
kieran@irishSoE.com
www.irishsoe.com
Toyota Ireland
Ian Corbett
Public Relations and Promotions Manager
icorbett@toyota.ie
00353 1 4190200
