Drive Confident wins Prince Michael International Road Safety Award
The AA Charitable Trust for Road Safety and The Environment (UK charity no. 1125119) was registered on 22 July 2008.
The objectives of the charity are;
The preservation and protection of human life and health by the prevention of personal injury to, and death of, individuals on roads and in motor vehicles in the United Kingdom in particular but not exclusively through:
The Charity aims to launch one major new initiative each year.
The Charity trustees are:
Andrew Goodsell, Chairman
Edmund King, Director
Steve Dewey
Andrew Strong
Simon Douglas
Michael Cutbill
Melissa Poulter
Chris Howell
(updated 10 May 2013)
The AA Charitable Trust supports the UN Decade of Action for road safety
Watch us on Channel 5's 'Dangerous Drivers' School' to see people successfully battle their driving demons with Drive Smart and Drive Confident
Offering totally free eco-safe driver training packages
The Charity's first target was new drivers 'most at risk' – those who have passed their driving test in the last twelve months and have had an accident or points on their licence.
Drive Smart was launched in January 2009, initially to offer 2,000 totally free eco-safe driver training packages (two one-hour sessions with a fully-qualified AA driving instructor) designed specifically for the Charity to help new drivers.
Supported by transport ministers, Drive Smart focuses on improving safety as well as 'eco-driving' techniques to cut fuel consumption.
The Charity has been working closely with a number of partners, including some police forces, to promote 'Drive Smart' – Greater Manchester, North Wales and Northamptonshire Police were the first on board.
In Police Forces running the scheme, new drivers stopped and cautioned or charged with offences such as not wearing a seatbelt or using a mobile phone while driving are written to by the Police Force and encouraged to apply for Drive Smart courses.
The charity continues to work closely with police forces that have expressed an interest in Drive Smart, and with other potential partners.
Read more and apply for a course
Drive Confident wins Prince Michael International Road Safety Award
Watch us on Channel 5's 'Dangerous Drivers' School' to see people successfully battle their driving demons with Drive Smart and Drive Confident
Free guided tuition and practice for qualified drivers lacking confidence
If you're a qualified driver who'd like refresher driver training to increase your confidence on the road, you could be eligible for free training with one of the AA's qualified driving instructors.
In February 2010, the AA Charitable Trust for Road Safety and the Environment launched a second driver training programme, 'Drive Confident', aimed at qualified drivers in need of refresher driver training to increase confidence on the road.
Drive Confident offers two hours (two one-hour slots, or one two-hour slot) of free guided tuition and practice for qualified drivers who lack confidence in some areas of driving, or who might need some refresher training.
The in-car sessions will include an initial assessment followed by guided practice and coaching. An accompanying workbook supports the in-car sessions.
Drivers with a full licence who have returned to driving having not driven for a long time
Drivers with specific concerns or difficulties with for example:
Read more and apply for a course
Drive Confident wins Prince Michael International Road Safety Award
The AA Charitable Trust was awarded a grant through the FIA Road Safety Grant Programme to fund:
Feedback from participants in the UK shows the availability of free refresher courses for qualified drivers has a real impact on their ability to drive safely and competently.
The AA Charitable Trust hopes the template will encourage other clubs to improve the standard of driving in their country by developing similar courses.
The template giving guidance on how to develop similar schemes.
Download the template as a pdf
The AA Charitable Trust supports the UN Decade of Action for road safety
The Charity's trustees are considering a number of possible ideas for new initiatives in the future.
Motorcycles make up approximately 1% of traffic but account for 20% of fatalities
The trustees are considering several options to tackle motorcycle safety including the possibility of providing support to 'bike safe' and 'scooter safe' schemes.
Half of drivers believe that drug driving is a more common problem than drink driving
Over 50,000 drivers a year would fail roadside 'drugalyzer' tests if such devices were being used by UK Police Forces.
The AA Charitable Trust is considering creating a schools education programme to take the message of the dangers of drug driving to young people 16-18 years old.
The AA Charitable Trust for Road Safety and the Environment would be pleased to receive ideas/proposals from AA Members for possible future schemes aligned with its charitable objectives;
The preservation and protection of human life and health by the prevention of personal injury to, and death of, individuals on roads and in motor vehicles in the United Kingdom in particular but not exclusively through:
Contact the AA Charitable Trust » if you have any ideas for possible future initiatives or if you would like to make a donation.
The AA Charitable Trust supports the UN Decade of Action for road safety
Nigel Mansell helped launch a joint AA Charitable Trust and Make Roads Safe report into young driver safety at the Silverstone Classic on 20 July 2012.
The report reveals the ‘perfect storm’ of circumstances surrounding drivers’ first accidents.
Key findings of the report centre on a survey of motorists on the AA/Populus panel who have been involved in car crashes.
Drivers revealed that nearly 40 per cent of them had crashed by the time they were 23 years old.
The results also show that a quarter (26%) had crashed within two years of gaining their licence.
Read more in the AA Newsroom »
Young drivers at risk (pdf)
The AA Charitable Trust supports the UN Decade of Action for road safety
Typically learning to drive is something young people only get the chance to do with the support of their parents, or other immediate family members.
But the freedom driving brings can help young people get a job, travel to work, build an independent life and manage their own social arrangements – vital steps for all young people, but particularly for those in care who may struggle to feel in control over their own lives.
Drive for opportunity set out to provide driving lessons for four teenagers within the Bristol care system.
The pilot project is a collaboration between the AA Charitable Trust and AA Driving School, Bristol City Council and Professor David Berridge from the School for Policy Studies at Bristol University.
The AA Trust has funded the tuition, which is being provided by three AA Driving School instructors around Bristol and is also monitoring the progress of each participant. Bristol City Council has been providing additional support to the young people involved, through their care team.
Edmund King, director of the AA Charitable Trust, said: “This project has been a real learning curve for us and has paved the way for us taking part in similar ventures again.
“Learning to drive is a life skill that many young people take for granted. It is difficult to fully appreciate how useful driving is, as teenagers make the transition to full independence. Driving is something most teenagers in care never get to experience and they are often the young people who need the most help to build a secure and independent future. "
The project will be evaluated upon completion, when Professor Berridge and the AA Charitable Trust will look at the achievements, challenges and longer-term impact the project had.
Drive for opportunity - Bristol children in care get into gear »
The AA Charitable Trust supports the UN Decade of Action for road safety
A selection of news from the AA Charitable Trust for Road Safety and the Environment
AA Charitable Trust launches free driver training »
(17 January 2009)
Police join AA scheme to tackle teenage road carnage »
(14 May 2009)
AA Charity renews commitment to tackling young driver road death in 2010 »
(15 January 2010)
AA Charity launches new scheme for drivers lacking confidence »
(17 March 2010)
Nigel Mansell launches joint AA Charitable Trust and Make Roads Safe report into young driver safety »
(20 July 2012)
Drive for opportunity - Bristol children in care get into gear »
(30 August 2012)
Older drivers - AA Charity wants drivers to speak to healthcare providers about continuing driving »
(1 October 2012)
If you have ideas for possible future initiatives or if you would like to make a donation
