ROAD SAFETY FEARS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF PARENTAL WORRIES
Almost half of all parents admit that keeping their child safe on the roads is one of their greatest parenting concerns. From being a pedestrian and cyclist, to getting behind the wheel, 42 per cent of mums and dads said that keeping their child safe on the roads is something that keeps them awake at night. According to the research from pre-17 driving experts Young Driver, one in six parents says they’re absolutely terrified of their child learning to drive (17 per cent). However, some parents are tackling that fear by doing everything they can to help their offspring become a good driver – including starting them behind the wheel from age 10. With one in 20 parents saying their child is already a backseat driver, offering advice and critique, some parents are going one step further and allowing their youngsters to try being in the front seat. Teen expert Nicola Morgan, is an award-winning author and international speaker, specialising in writing for and about adolescent development, performance and wellbeing, including the books ‘Blame My Brain’ and ‘The Teenage Guide to Stress’. She explains why learning to drive from a younger age can be beneficial: “The brain learns to do anything well by repetition. Every time we repeat an activity, whether mental or physical, we are actually creating and then strengthening physical pathways between neurons
(nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord) which allow us to become confident and fluent in something. The more times we do something, the stronger those pathways become; the stronger they become, the more “automatic” the skills in question become. “Learning from a younger age can create a safer new driver when they do go on to pass their test because more repetition, and practice, lays down stronger neural pathways. So, their level of expertise is greater, meaning they will use less brain bandwidth for doing the mechanical parts of driving, leaving them with more brain bandwidth for reacting to road changes and emergencies. “Psychologically, 17-year olds may feel under pressure to pass their driving test quickly. Partly to gain status with peers, partly because of time pressures of exams and other responsibilities and partly because of financial pressure. This can lead them to have too few lessons. There is a danger in learning to drive very quickly in a short space of time and with the minimum repetitions to pass the test but not to become expert.” The science is borne out by statistics, which show one in five newly qualified will have an accident within six months of passing their test, rising to 40 per cent of male drivers. Four hundred people are killed on the UK’s roads each year in accidents involving a young driver.
A CELEBRATION OF SPEED: TICKETS GO ON SALE FOR LONDON CONCOURS 2018 The London Concours 2018, hosted at the Honourable Artillery Company from 7-8 June, will be an out-and-out celebration of speed. Tickets are now on sale for the event, which will bring together a specially curated selection of more than 80 of the quickest cars ever created, from early 20th Century racers to modern hypercars. The cars will gather in a five-acre oasis of green within the Honourable Artillery Company grounds, informally known as the ‘world’s second most valuable cricket pitch’. Just a stone’s throw from Bank, the Barbican and London icons like The Gherkin, London Concours is a unique destination for car enthusiasts. A number of ultra-rare vehicles have already been confirmed to attend, including the Ferrari F50; a flagship of the Ferrari range in the ‘90s, with a 062mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 203mph. Nearly 20 years after the F50, in 2012, came another V12powered Italian road car: the Pagani Huayra. This wild 230mph supercar, featuring active aerodynamics and a lightweight carbon fibre body, will also be on the London Concours lawn from 7-8 June. But this celebration of speed isn’t just about the latest 200mph-plus supercars. The 1950s Mercedes 300SL ‘Gullwing’ will be making an appearance, as the fastest road car of its day, alongside the one-time land speed
record-holding 1911 Fiat S76, informally known as ‘The Beast of Turin’. This 28.5-litre behemoth is capable of 135mph – not bad for a car over a century old. The cars will be the focal point of the event, but London Concours is also a destination for luxury, featuring highend food, champagne, watches and art. A unique ‘Investment Conference’ will be held on the morning of the London Concours, hosted by experts from renowned classic car specialists, JD Classics. The team will lead a discussion on historic vehicles as a uniquely enjoyable investment, and the fastest appreciating asset class of the last 10 years. Andrew Evans, London Concours Managing Director, said: “We’ll have a line-up of vehicles at the London Concours spanning 120 years, but there’s a common theme among them: the desire to go faster. This collection of vehicles sits at the heart of the event, but with our unique JD Classics ‘Investment Conference’ and displays from a number of our luxury partners like Stratstone and Nicholas Mee, the London Concours with become a real destination for the local City residents and workers.” Tickets to the London Concours are available from londonconcours.co.uk, with a full day adult admission ticket costing £35, and concessions from £18.