A CASH crisis could put the brakes on a drive to put young people on the road to lifelong motoring safety.

About 12,000 teenagers have undergone road safety training on Durham Police’s award-winning Wise Drive – Drive for Life programme, at the force’s Aykley Heads headquarters, since its inception in 2001.

It was launched after research showed 17 to 25-year-old motorists were involved in 40 per cent of all road collisions, even though they make up only a tenth of the licence-holding population.

Wise Drive has earned national accolades, including a Prince Michael of Kent international road safety award.

Those taking part are in the Year 11 school bracket, aged 15 or 16, and eligible to apply for a driving licence within the next 18 months.

They take part in practical workshops, using driving and brake reaction simulators, a seat-belt sled “crashing” at 5mph, as well as observing a fire service-run serious road accident demonstration.

Advice is offered on the pitfalls of buying and maintaining cars and motorbikes, and there is the chance to go behind the wheel of cars provided by Birtley-based driving school Pass ’n’ Go, which also supplies iPads to experience the driving test theory element.

Wise Drive 2011 is now under way at Aykley Heads, and runs for the next two weeks, but the officer who has organised all previous events fears it could be the last.

PC Dave Nixon, the force’s road casualty reduction officer, said: “Wise Drive has played a major part in reducing the number of casualties on our roads.

“A large percentage of our young drivers now aged 17 to 25 attended a Wise Drive event when they were younger, and we’re convinced what they learn stays with them for years.

“I’m hopeful we can secure funding to keep the scheme going, but in the current financial climate it’s far from certain.

“We’d love to hear from any potential sponsors.

“The project aims to educate young people for a lifetime on the road and it would be a huge blow to think this might be the end,” added PC Nixon, who retires early next year after 31 years’ service.

Organisations supporting the scheme, either financially or with practical support, this year include Durham Agency Against Crime, County Durham Foundation, the NatWest Bank, Walkers Snack Foods, County Durham and Darlington Road Casualty Reduction Forum, plus the county council and fire service.