Young Chelsea FC footballers are marking Road Safety Week by taking part in specialist driver training in a bid to keep them safe on the roads.
A group of players from the club’s Academy will undergo the training with driving school BSM on Thursday, November 22, at the club’s training ground in Cobham, Surrey.
The scheme has been organised by the PFA and will continue throughout the season. Players, aged between 16 and 18, have the opportunity to get behind the wheel in a driving school car with a BSM instructor. If they already have their licence they will be taken out on the road for a refresher lesson and commentary driving.
“It is really important in terms of heightening road safety awareness in our young players, helping keep them safe on the roads and also to set a good example to other young people who look up to them.”
Pat Lally, PFA Director of Education.
If they do not have their licence they will take part in the off-road activities, like driving while texting and wearing ‘beer goggles’, to demonstrate how dangerous these activities are when driving. All the players will take part in classroom sessions to increase awareness of the general dangers of driving.
Mark Peacock, head of BSM, said: “Education is key to helping young drivers stay safe.
“Chelsea FC is setting a fantastic example by taking such a positive and proactive approach to keeping their young players safe on the roads.
“We know that young drivers are disproportionately represented in accidents and our own research shows how prevalent smartphone use is among young drivers. Tackling the problem head on with extra training and education is the best way to drive home vital road safety messages.”
Gerry Harvey, head of education at the Chelsea Academy, added: “At Chelsea, we take very seriously the safety of our young players on the road and believe we must educate them as much as possible in order for them to become good drivers.
‘It is important we support our scholars in their development off the pitch, and we are delighted to work alongside BSM on this project.”
Pat Lally, director of Education at the PFA, said: “We are pleased to have an ongoing relationship with BSM to deliver these courses.”
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