Doug Kennedy BBC News Website

Drivers get tuition under real journey conditions

Fife Constabulary have seen an increase of more than 50% in calls enquiring about the Pass Plus scheme.

It comes after four young people were killed when the car they were in struck another vehicle on the A92 and crashed into a field.

Traffic Inspector David McCulloch said it was a sad start to the year.

Mr McCulloch said: "In 2004 it was a bad 12 months for fatal and seriously injured casualties and 2005 sadly hasn't got off to a better start."

Parents are thinking they should try and help their children Jane Greer Road safety manager

Since the New Year there have been 26 people seriously injured on the Kingdom's roads, with six people killed in the month of January alone.

The accident which claimed the lives of Steven Garland, 17, Craig Lawson, 17, Mona Halliday, 16, and Lisa Donaldson, 16, all from Pitlessie and Ladybank, prompted the families to allow the release of a picture of the wreckage of the car.

Mr McCulloch said: "The families' view was very much that, although still very raw to them, that if similar incidents can be prevented by the use of the photograph of the car then they want to support out message."

And it seems to have worked, with many families in Fife considering the real possibilities of being affected by tragedy themselves.

Relatives allowed police to issue the picture of the crash

Road safety manager Jane Greer said: "We've had a number of extra phone calls, up about 50%, because parents are thinking they should try and help their children.

"Which is good, we want parents to look at it in a serious way and not forget they still have a part to play."

She said the benefits came in proper confidence on the roads, leaving youngsters safer and happier behind the wheel.

The force runs the project for 17 to 21-year-olds, but it is open to any new driver and is available nationally through the Pass Plus organisation.

Fife started promoting and subsidising the course in 1999 and has since provided tuition for more than 1,400 recently passed drivers.

'Risk-takers'

It gives experience in areas not covered by the normal test like motorways, dual carriageways, night driving, all weather driving and city driving.

Ms Greer said: "We're never going to get rid of risk takers in the young age group, but we have to get them to look at it more seriously, I don't think they appreciate what they're going to face when they get out there on their own."

Inspector McCulloch said it was important to address the issues of over-enthusiasm coupled with drivers' over-estimation of their own abilities.

Your life could be lost, so could that of others, and something that people don't always think about is that disfigurement and disability Inspector David McCulloch

He said: "All of a sudden they're out in a car, they're on their own or with their friends, and that gives them a sense of freedom but we're trying to point out as strongly as we can the consequences of inexperienced driving.

"The driving licence is the first thing that could be lost, but your life could be lost, so could that of others, and something that people don't always think about is that disfigurement and disability could also be a consequence for the driver or other road users.

"Sometimes that can be a really, really horrific thing to live with."