Training
Training is mostly concerned with creating or developing practical skills, is short term in duration and includes activities such as pedestrian training, cycle training, post-test driver training and motorcycle training.
Partners in Road Safety Wales can:
- Identify the need for appropriate training and assist in its development
- Enable training courses to happen
- Provide resources for these courses to promote training for at risk groups of road users
- Deliver courses where necessary
- Ensure the schemes are widely and appropriately advertised
- Ensure courses are risk assessed and monitored for safety and content.
Good Practice Guidelines have been published for many types of road safety training schemes, such as the Kerbcraft child pedestrian skills training scheme, and many organisations provide training courses or training resources for specific road user groups.
Primary Training
Kerbcraft
Promoted throughout all 22 Local Authorities in Wales as a result of special funding from the Welsh Government. The scheme teaches children aged 5-7 how to be safe pedestrians. The children are taken out of school by trained volunteers, in groups of no more than three, to learn three main skills:
- choosing safe places and routes to cross the road
- crossing safely at parked cars
- crossing safely near junctions
Find out more about Kerbcraft in Wales
Cycle Training
All local authorities in Wales offer cycle training. It is generally available when pupils reach year 6 (although occasionally it is offered to year 5). Traditionally cycle training has been undertaken off road i.e. the schoolyard, but in recent years more and more local authorities have been training children on road so that they can experience real traffic situations. This gradual change in cycle training has led to the introduction of the National Standards for Cycle Training. For details of the Standards click here.
National Standards or Bikeability is a three stage training programme which takes you from the basic skills of balance and manoeuvring to bespoke training to allow you to confidently cycle on all roads in your local area.
For details of cycle training provision in a particular local authority contact the appropriate Road Safety Officer.
Secondary Training
Pre-driver training
As an example, the Mega Drive scheme was originally set up in Gwent in 1995 to address the very serious problem of young drivers being involved in a disproportionate number of road crashes, largely because of their inexperience. Mega Drive is delivered to college age students who will be planning on sitting their practical driving test in the not too distant future and may not be aware of all the potential hazards that come with driving on British roads.
Students participating in Mega Drive visit interactive workstations in groups of three where they learn vital information on driving related topics. These can include:
- hazard awareness
- essential documents
- crash causation
- effects and consequences of drink and drugs
- buying a new or second hand car
- what to do at the scene of a crash
Year after year the workstation that proves to be the most popular is when the students get the opportunity to get into the driver’s seat. They are given the opportunity to drive around a special course whilst accompanied by an approved driving instructor. This often gives the students their first taste of what being behind the wheel is really like.
To check the availability of pre-driver schemes in your area contact your local Road Safety Officer.
Cycle Training
Traditionally cycle training has been undertaken off road i.e. the schoolyard, but in recent years more and more local authorities have been training children on road so that they can experience real traffic situations. This gradual change in cycle training has led to the introduction of the National Standards for Cycle Training. For details of the Standards click here
National Standards Cycle Training is a three stage training programme which takes you from the basic skills of balance and manoeuvring to bespoke training to allow you to confidently cycle on all roads in your local area.
For details of cycle training provision in a particular local authority contact the appropriate Road Safety Officer.
Adult Groups
Pass Plus Cymru
Passed your driving test?
Or do you know a young person who’s just passed their test?
Here’s the plus side…..
Discover more driving techniques, hints and tips for just £20
(if you’re aged between 17-25 and live in Wales).
And there’s no test!
Here’s how it works
You’ll focus on:
- Heading off on the motorway
- Driving techniques and hazard awareness
- Getting around at night
- Coping with busy towns and cities
- Driving on rural country roads
- Thinking ahead
What do you get from it?
- Better driving skills
- More chance of lower insurance
- Less chance of a collision, or injuring yourself, friends and others
Look at www.dragondriver.com or call 0845 050 4255 to book onto a course.
(Calls will cost 2p per minute plus your telephone company's Access Charge)
Pass Plus Cymru is an enhanced version of the standard Pass Plus course and is supported by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
It’s a short expert-led higher driving course designed to develop techniques, increase awareness and widen experience.
It’s available to young people in Wales for just £20 as the rest is covered by Welsh Government through grant funding to the local authorities.
Young people are over represented in incident statistics and the Welsh Government is working with Road Safety Wales to encourage young drivers to become even better drivers with the ultimate objectives of reducing incidents and saving lives.
Adult Cycle Training
National Standards Cycle Training is a three stage training programme which takes you from the basic skills of balance and manoeuvring to bespoke training to allow you to confidently cycle on all roads in your local area.
Opportunities for adults to train to be safe riders are increasing throughout Wales. Contact your local Road Safety Officer for details.
Mature Drivers Refresher Courses
Mature drivers are statistically less likely to be involved in a road crash than younger or less experienced drivers. Research shows that mature drivers tend to make fewer and shorter journeys than other age groups and travel on familiar roads, mainly during daylight hours. However, the inevitable effect of the ageing process can affect your sight, hearing and judgement and you may not be aware of these gradual changes.
If you would like to update your driving skills, contact your Road Safety Officer to check the availability of courses in your area or visit olderdrivers.org.uk.
BikeSafe Cymru
BikeSafe - Bridging the Gap, an initiative undertaken by the four Welsh Police Forces, supported by Central and Local Government, helps to assess and advise motorcyclists on how to get the best from their riding, whilst maintaining safety. Motorcyclists are 40 times more likely to be killed than a car driver; therefore it is vital that riders take the opportunity for extra training to ensure they are able to protect themselves on the road. Visit the BikeSafe website for more information and to book.
A website all about safe motorcycling in Wales written and managed by professional bikers for bikers can be viewed here
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Advanced Driving
95% of road accidents are caused by driver error. Most people become involve in advanced driving because they want to know that they are driving as safely as possible and to improve on their skills.
It is always difficult to tell how good a driver you are, but being a good driver means that you never stop learning.
By improving your driving skills, you will not only become a better driver but also enjoy your driving more.
Advanced driving groups can be found on our links page.