Project aims to prevent dangerous driving in teens

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said more needed to be done to make roads safer

A new project aimed at preventing dangerous driving amongst 12 to 17-year-olds has been launched in response to an increase in driving offences committed by children.

The Morse Youth Initiative has been given £72,000 of funding by the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner.

Under the scheme children who have committed driving-related offences will be referred to a 12-week behaviour change programme.

"Of course young people need to be held accountable for their behaviour but they need to be supported to not behave like that," said Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion.

The programme, which is delivered by charity YSS in partnership with West Mercia Youth Justice Service, will offer participants one-to-one sessions with a youth worker and see them take part in an online road safety activity.

"We’ve looked at why are these young people doing this and a lot of it is around impulsive behaviour and not being able to think about the long term consequences," said YSS operations manager Lia Palios-Hayden.

Mr Campion added: “Young people will sometimes take more risks, sometimes when working out their way in life they might have got into the wrong set of associates, therefore giving young people a chance to get their behaviour into the right place is absolutely the right thing for me.

“I hope to see a real change made and that young people play their part in making our roads safer.”