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Charlie Neil, a student from Belfast Boys’ Model School was the lucky recipient of New Driver NI’s £2,000 cash draw prize after signing up to the New Driver NI Safe Motoring Pledge. The Safe Motoring Pledge is sponsored by CRASH Services, NI’s leading Accident Management company, and JMK Solicitors, NI’s Number 1 Personal Injury Solicitors, who both support the promotion of road safety and new driver education across NI.

Since September 2021 over 1,900 students across Northern Ireland signed up to the New Driver NI pledge and were entered into a £7,000 giveaway. By signing the pledge, students are committing to safe motoring in the following ways: respecting the speed limit, never using mobile devices while driving, never ever driving under the influence of drink or drugs, always wearing a seat belt and being aware that driving when tired can kill.

The students were all entered into monthly draws throughout the school year. As well as Charlie Neil winning the £2,000 cash prize in June, Sarah Devlin from Lumen Christi College won £500 with Dawn Currie from The Royal School, Armagh and Thomas Martin from St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena, both receiving £250 each. The other winners throughout the school year included students from Campbell College, Belfast, Edmund Rice College, Glengormley, Down High School, Downpatrick, St Patrick’s High School, Keady, and Omagh Academy.

Emma Duffy, New Driver NI Special Projects Officer, commented “I’m delighted over 1,900 students this academic year have already signed the New Driver NI’s Safe Motoring pledge, and I’m thrilled to present Charlie with his cheque for £2000! The pledge is an important commitment for our young drivers in helping to create a community of safe drivers.”

Jonathan McKeown, Chairman at CRASH Services said “We are delighted to support New Driver Safety Ambassadors. As an accident management company, we recognise there is a real importance to educating young people on safe motoring as they progress into driving for the first time. The advice and support that New Driver provides is excellent in nurturing their journey from getting started, right through to tips and advice for their vehicles, scenarios, and weather conditions.”

Maurece Hutchinson, Managing Director at JMK Solicitors commented “As a legal firm specialising in personal injury cases, many of which are a result of road traffic accidents, we recognise the valuable role the New Driver Safety Ambassadors play in helping to nurture young people on their journey from getting started, right through to tips and advice for their vehicles, scenarios, and weather conditions.”

New Driver NI is a community interest company that aims to educate all new drivers and passengers on making good motoring decisions, to create a community of safe drivers.

They provide year 13 and 14 students across Northern Ireland with a magazine packed full of useful information to help them get on the road safely and stay safe once there. They offer a tailored presentation to schools to encourage good road habits, during which they invite the students to sign up to the Safe Motoring pledge.

The programme is completely free for schools as funding is provided by DFI Road Safety Grant Scheme, six local PCSPs’, and corporate sponsors including, CRASH ServicesHankook TyresAB&C InsuranceDriveTech UKJMK Solicitors, and Charles Hurst.

For more information and access to the New Driver NI magazine see www.newdriverni.com.

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