THERE is now a new reason to impress your driving test examiner.

Each month, the men with the clip boards will also become the judges for a revamped version of the Young Driver of the Year competition to find Jersey’s best new young drivers.

Everyone who sits their test will be judged and will stand a chance of being crowned Jersey’s best new young driver.

The intention is that a cup will be up for grabs each month, and the monthly winner will also be featured in the Motoring supplement.

At the end of the year, the 12 monthly winners will be invited back to find the champion of champions.
The New Driver of the Year finals will be held on the same weekend as the Young Driver of the Year, which will be open to all 17 to 24 year olds as it has been for the past three years.

The exciting initiative, which will be officially launched next month, is the brainchild of the Road Safety Panel, which launched the Young Driver of the Year competition in 2005.

Panel spokesman Philip Blake, the Island’s road safety officer, said: ‘We have for three years run the young driver of the year competition for 17 to 24 year olds. The aim of the competition is to raise awareness in young drivers of their vulnerability due to inexperience and help raise driving standards via the competition.’

He added that the aim of the new competition was to try and get more young drivers involved with the ultimate goal of improving their skills and the safety of all road users.

‘All new drivers who sit their test will automatically be entered into the competition,’ said Mr Blake.
‘The driving examiners at DVS will choose a driver each month who has demonstrated the best driving skills.

‘Drivers can opt out of winning if they wish, of course. All these winners will then be invited into a main competition later in the year to find the top driver. This will be done at the same time as the traditional young driver competition.’

Panel chairman Tim Parker Garner said that the young drivers who had taken part in the previous competitions had benefited greatly from the experience.

‘They have learned more about their road craft,’ he said. ‘I think that when youngsters get out onto the road, they are very wet behind the ears. Yes, you have got your licence, but you only really start to learn once you have passed your test.

‘We have found this old adage is very true and that the skill levels of the young drivers that have come to us have been greatly improved. They have really benefited from the tutorage.’

Mr Parker Garner added: ‘The competition has also been a bit of fun, but with a serious side to it as well. We want to cut down the number of young drivers having crashes.’

• Peter Tabb (left) and Tim Parker Garner during one of the Road Safety Panel and Advanced Drivers Association young driver of the year competition tests in 2007