Britain’s best young driver

Read the stats and you'd be forgiven for thinking every driver under the age of 25 was a dangerous loose cannon with a death wish.So it's nice to celebrate the fact that there are actually some very good young drivers out there, something recognised in a recent contest organised by Auto Trader.

Gallery: Learning to drive

Set up as part of the Don't Wreck The Ride campaign run on the Auto Trader website, the Young Driver Of The Year award saw seven finalists go head to head at the Rockingham race circuit in Northamptonshire. But this wasn't a test of speed, the finalists instead judged on their skill and precision at the wheel. And with the first prize of a Ford Fiesta and a year's insurance and a runner's up award of £2,000 there was every incentive to win! Successful or not, every finalist gained valuable car control experience on Rockingham's testing wet handling area, designed to simulate real world conditions such as aquaplaning and black ice.

Recognising that the well intentioned but occasionally preachy message from the government and road safety organisations wasn't registering with young drivers, Don't Wreck The Ride takes a different approach. With a mix of celebrity and real-life experiences in vodcast form, the site educates - and shocks - but speaks the language of the people it's trying to reach. All the finalists, including lucky winner Jed Sheahan and runner up Jade Hansle, seemed to have taken on board much of what the site had told them and all seven proved that not all young drivers are reckless hooligans. To find out more we conducted a voxpop while at the event - read on for the full story!

NAME: Matt BielieaukasAGE: 24FROM: BirminghamHOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR LICENCE?
Five years nowHOW MANY LESSONS DID YOU HAVE?
It took me a year, probably a lesson a week but my mate was a driving instructorDID YOU PASS FIRST TIME?
I'd have passed a lot quicker if I'd passed my theory first time!WHAT MAKES A GOOD DRIVER?
Awareness of others - no matter how good a driver you are you've got to be aware of everyone else, obviously a certain amount of skill is down to yourself too!HOW HAS YOUR DRIVING CHANGED SINCE YOU PASSED?
I've got more aware of how wide the car is and things like thatWHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW YOU WISH YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE LEARNING?
Just confidence really, it was only a couple of months after I passed I really started learning driving properly - you don't start learning til you're out thereWHAT IS THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DRIVING?
Definitely the instruction, as a young kid you want to go out and give it a hammering but I did that with my driving instructor and he let me do that and get it out of my system - better to do it with him!HOW CAN WE MAKE YOUNG DRIVERS SAFER?
Maybe something like this, so people are aware of what happens when you do lose control ... obviously it's more money but if it makes you a better driver...

NAME: Janina WarnkAGE: 24FROM: HamburgHOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR LICENCE?
Five yearsHOW MANY LESSONS DID YOU HAVE?
I can't remember, 20 or 30 I think...DID YOU PASS FIRST TIME?
Yes!WHAT MAKES A GOOD DRIVER?
Anticipation!HOW HAS YOUR DRIVING CHANGED SINCE YOU PASSED?
I've got faster ... I must say I am more aggressive now, especially in big townsWHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW YOU WISH YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE LEARNING?
The weather, and how it affects your drivingWHAT IS THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DRIVING?
The environment - if I'm in the town I have to drive more assertivelyHOW CAN WE MAKE YOUNG DRIVERS SAFER?
To have a situation where you can get out of control so you are not shocked if it happens in real life

NAME: Andrew Priestley-SmithAGE: 19FROM: SheffieldHOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR LICENCE?
Two yearsHOW MANY LESSONS DID YOU HAVE?
I can't remember, it's a bit different because my dad used to be a driving instructor!DID YOU PASS FIRST TIME?
First time!WHAT MAKES A GOOD DRIVER?
Someone who understands roads and road conditions, taking everything into considerationHOW HAS YOUR DRIVING CHANGED SINCE YOU PASSED?
I've picked up a lot of bad habits, I don't drive to test standard - I cross my hands, and don't use my mirrors enoughWHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW YOU WISH YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE LEARNING?
Probably how things can change so much on the road - I've had a lot of experience of rain and things!WHAT IS THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DRIVING?
Probably my dad, my friends don't influence me because they're not very good drivers!HOW CAN WE MAKE YOUNG DRIVERS SAFER?
Change the test so you're not driving to pass your test, maybe incorporate Pass Plus into it

NAME: Hayley WellsAGE: 20FROM: GrimsbyHOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR LICENCE?
Two yearsHOW MANY LESSONS DID YOU HAVE?
About 28 hoursDID YOU PASS FIRST TIME?
Yes!WHAT MAKES A GOOD DRIVER?
Sticking to the speed limit and not being egged on by other people - having consideration for other driversHOW HAS YOUR DRIVING CHANGED SINCE YOU PASSED?
I'm a lot more confident in my abilities - you've got to be aware of everyone else as wellWHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW YOU WISH YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE LEARNING?
To be more confident in myselfWHAT IS THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DRIVING?
I go on my own instinctsHOW CAN WE MAKE YOUNG DRIVERS SAFER?
Incorporating Pass Plus and having to drive on motorways into lessons - the first time I drove on the motorway was scary

NAME: Jed SheahanAGE: 17FROM: South WalesHOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR LICENCE?
Five monthsHOW MANY LESSONS DID YOU HAVE?
30 or 40 hours I thinkDID YOU PASS FIRST TIME?
First time!WHAT MAKES A GOOD DRIVER?
Not giving into peer pressure and concentratingHOW HAS YOUR DRIVING CHANGED SINCE YOU PASSED?
I'm more confidentWHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW YOU WISH YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE LEARNING?
Always check your mirrors - I got a minor fault for that!WHAT IS THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DRIVING?
I think it was my instructor, and the Pass PlusHOW CAN WE MAKE YOUNG DRIVERS SAFER?
I think talking about it on websites is good, hearing other people's stories

NAME: James WallAGE:17FROM: BridgenorthHOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR LICENCE?
About 10 monthsHOW MANY LESSONS DID YOU HAVE?
17 hoursDID YOU PASS FIRST TIME?
First time!WHAT MAKES A GOOD DRIVER?
Being safe, driving sensibly, not showing offHOW HAS YOUR DRIVING CHANGED SINCE YOU PASSED?
I've definitely got my own way of driving now, I'm more confident and relaxed which is betterWHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW YOU WISH YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE LEARNING?
That people can be mean on the road ... that's a big one!WHAT IS THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DRIVING?
Definitely my instructor, he was a great help - I don't listen to my friends, they're not as good as me!HOW CAN WE MAKE YOUNG DRIVERS SAFER?
I suppose there should be a minimum amount of lessons and perhaps a stricter test, with maybe more than one test to make sure it's not a fluke on the day

NAME: Jade HansleAGE: 19FROM: LondonHOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR LICENCE?
Eight monthsHOW MANY LESSONS DID YOU HAVE?
About 20 something but my dad took me out as wellDID YOU PASS FIRST TIME?
Second attempt, I was a bag of nerves the first timeWHAT MAKES A GOOD DRIVER?
Concentration, being aware of things around youHOW HAS YOUR DRIVING CHANGED SINCE YOU PASSED?
I'm a lot more confident and as I've been driving for longer I've definitely improvedWHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW YOU WISH YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE LEARNING?
How to correct a skid!WHAT IS THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DRIVING?
London! You can tell a London driver ... survival of the fittest on those roadsHOW CAN WE MAKE YOUNG DRIVERS SAFER?
Do more things like Pass Plus because you don't drive in the dark or on motorways and that is a bit scary and I think a minimum number of lessons would be a good thing

What to do once you've passed
Overcome driving test nerves
How to get your provisional licence
How to arrange insurance
Pass your theory test
Learning to drive: the basics