10-06-2025
Pathfinder Initiative for young drivers to benefit from Community Fund
A York and North Yorkshire programme, which aims to reduce the number of road collisions involving young drivers, has received additional funding.
The Pathfinder Initiative is aimed at 15 to 17-year-olds - including those identified as marginalised or at risk of offending, as well as those in care - and offers five days of training, during school holidays, for participants before they have obtained their driving licence.
The initiative is now set to benefit from a £6,500 grant from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority's Community Fund.
According to York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership data, in 2023 across York and North Yorkshire, 460 people were killed or seriously injured on York and North Yorkshire's roads, with 117 of these people being between 16 and 24 years of age.
A spokesperson claimed: "While one in five new drivers are involved in a first-year accident, data collected by the Pathfinder team shows that this figure drops dramatically to just one in 20 for those who complete the Pathfinder programme."
The £6,500 grant will facilitate three Pathfinder Initiative courses over 12 months, supporting up to 100 young people.
The Pathfinder Initiative combines practical driving experience with classroom-style learning.
The initiative also offers free online resources through The Lunchtime Sessions:
