MOST youngsters, boys at least, will have played driving games on their Xbox or Playstation.

But when it’s time to get behind the wheel for real very few will have an insight into the skills needed for driving on the road.

It’s a fact that young drivers, those in the 17 to 24-year-old category, are far more likely to have an accident than older drivers.

While they make up just 1.5 per cent of road users, according to the road safety charity, Brake, they are involved in 12 per cent of fatal and serious accidents.

Young Driver is aiming to change those statistics.

Its driving sessions, which start from £34.95 and last either 30 minutes or an hour and are backed by insurers Admiral, are aimed at 11 to 17-year-olds and are now available in the North-East.

My son, 11-year-old Joe, was one of the first to take the course when it launched in Sunderland.

Its location on the top of the Bridges shopping centre car park sparked some initial concern, but those fears were soon allayed after a few minutes with his instructor Stu Cavanagh, a softly-spoken Wearsider, with a knack for putting people at ease.

After informing Joe of what switches do what and what pedals to press and when, he's allowed to set off once the way is clear.

The instructors use Skoda's small but perfectly formed Citigo hatch, which has been fitted with dual controls should the need to take evasive action be required.

I'd expected a few kangaroo lurches as we got underway, I certainly recall going through such embarrassment when my father first took me out, but the car remained surprisingly smooth. After negotiating a couple of bends and bringing the car to a safe stop, Joe was then asked to complete some steering exercises. Normally someone who wants to run before he can walk, he listened intently and completed the slalom with aplomb.

Having banished the temptation to cross his hands while turning, Joe's confidence was boosted further when he safely managed to complete what is now called the turn in the road, but what you are or I might more commonly call the three-point turn. At this point I could easily see him asking if he could drive me home or perhaps more likely allow me to drive just so he could inform me of everything that I was doing wrong.

After some reverse parking and a few more laps of the circuit it was time for the assessment.

"We have scales of where we want to take the kids up to," said Stu. "The first level is an introduction and by the end of it we want them to understand what they have done so they can do it prompted, seldom prompted and then become independent. Once they become independent they can move onto the next level.

"Joe was close to completing level two which was very good for someone in their first hour. He got to a really high level."

Driving at 11 might seem a waste of time to some, given that you normally need to be 17 to get a provisional licence. But Stu said there was plenty of evidence to the contrary.

"The earlier you learn to drive the safer you grow up to be," he said. "A survey found that kids that learn at a really early age get the aggression out of their system. They don't need to drive fast to show off."

Joe was certainly impressed.

"It went well. I wasn't confident at the start, I was worried about stalling and maybe crashing into a lamp post," he said. "But as I got used to it it got easier. It was a lot different to being on a computer game because you had to think about the gears and the clutch rather than just putting your foot down. I liked the instructor. He wasn't too harsh and didn't just talk but showed me what to do."

Joe said he would recommend the lessons to others of his age.

"It gave me an idea of what driving might be like when I am older," he said. "I think I will be more confident because it won't be my first time. It's a good idea because it may stop you wasting money on more and more driving lessons when you are older."

  • Young Driver operates at 37 venues across Britain, including the Bridges Shopping Centre, Sunderland, and the Metrocentre in Gateshead.

A 30-minute lesson costs £34.95 and 60 minutes is £64.95. Driving tuition for disabled youngsters is offered and birthday parties are also available. For more details visit www.youngdriver.eu or call 0844 371 9010.