A NEW effort has been launched to try and reduce the number of young drivers killed or injured on the roads of North Yorkshire.

The scheme, known as the Honest Truth, has been designed to tackle anti-social driving habits before they develop.

Road safety officers will train approved driving instructors to deliver the programme, which aims to help young drivers identify and eliminate bad driving traits.

In North Yorkshire, an average of 80 young people are killed or seriously injured each year and figures for 2009 to 2013 show that 21 per cent of the people killed or seriously injured in the county were aged 16 to 24.

Nationally, the age group has accounted for half the injury crashes between 10pm and 5am, half the crashes blamed on excessive speed and half the number of one vehicle crashes.

Over a third of those arrested for failing breath tests were from the age group – which was also responsible for nearly half of all injury crashes in the rain.

Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, chair of the county's 95 Alive road safety partnership, said: “On average, a young person is killed on UK roads every 18 hours and another suffers a serious injury every 90 minutes.

“The Honest Truth sees the fire and rescue service, the police, local authorities and approved driving instructors working together to help reduce these shocking numbers.

“Because of the time instructors spend with young people in tuition and the relationships they build, we are helping them make a real difference by providing teaching resources and key messages.”

The county’s executive member for road safety, Councillor Don Mackenzie, added: “The rural nature of North Yorkshire means there is a greater need for young people to drive and they tend to drive longer distances on rural roads than young drivers in other parts of the country.

“Regardless of what stage a learner driver is at, whether it’s their first lesson or post-test instruction, the Honest Truth will be a useful tool for instructors to help young drivers identify and avoid negative driving traits.

“We know that young people want to become good drivers and travel and get home safely. We are working with their instructors to help them to do so from their very first driving lesson.”

Any ADIs interested in taking part in the programme should call David Clark, driver training officer, on 01609-797479. More information about the programme can be found at thehonesttruth.co.uk