Young Driver offers driving lessons from 10 years old.
Kévin, the instructor, with his student Lowa (photo taken before the sanitary measures) -
J. Urbach / 20 Minutes
The company, whose French head office is based in La Roche-sur-Yon in Vendée, already offers sessions in several other cities in France, including Nantes.
"At this age, they learn more easily," said Kévin, one of the driving school instructors who supervise these young people.
He knows how to reverse gear, put on his turn signal, and even, with a little help, park “in a row”.
At 14, Lowan felt “quite comfortable” behind the wheel of a car.
The teenager is not really the age for driving, however, learning begins at least at 15 years.
This was without counting on Young Driver, a company from Great Britain which aims to "introduce the basics of driving and road safety to children from 10 years old."
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The company, whose French headquarters are based in La Roche-sur-Yon in Vendée, already offers sessions in several other cities (Bordeaux and Paris) and hopes to soon be deployed everywhere in France, such as Lille, Lyon or Marseille.
In Nantes, where initiations resume this Saturday after a cut-off due to confinement, lessons take place in the System U car park in Carquefou, privatized and fitted out for the occasion.
“These are real double-pedal cars (C3s from Citroën, exclusive partner) but the environment is ultra-secure, explains Young Driver management.
The child evolves with a certified driving school instructor.
The goal is to make this first experience as pleasant as possible.
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Young Driver offers driving lessons from 10 years old - J. Urbach / 20 Minutes
"Not super easy" to manage pedals and steering wheel
In the car, the atmosphere is rather relaxed.
Kevin, the instructor, plays benevolence with his young student who clings to the wheel.
“At this age, they learn more easily, judges the one who compares car and bicycle in his explanations.
As soon as the child understands the start, it's 5 or 6 hours of driving gained when he really begins his learning.
And if it doesn't, that's okay.
It's discovery, it really has to be fun.
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On this point, the bet seems to be successful with children who get out of cars.
Some people ask to come back several times, attracted by a symbolic "road book" to fill in as you go.
“It was cool, I didn't put the pressure on myself and it went really well,” smiles Maël, 17, who had already tried once in his grandpa's car.
Same enthusiasm for Clément, 14, also very smart.
“It's a little more difficult than karting, admits the boy.
Managing the pedals and the steering wheel at the same time is not super easy… ”
For 39.99 euros per half hour, which is often a Christmas or birthday present also aims to satisfy parents.
Very proud, Christian debriefs the performance of one of his sons.
"He started off nickel," he smiles.
He's talented !
Me it had taken me at least two hours to get the point ... "" It's an original activity, estimates another dad, who took lots of photos and videos.
Perhaps our daughter will be a little more attentive afterwards as a pedestrian, especially when she crosses the street… ”
No risk reduction
But not all reviews are equally rave.
When it was launched, some driving schools were worried that Young Driver would represent a form of competition.
“We are not addressing the same ages.
On the contrary, it allows many young people to take the step of accompanied driving, then ”, answers the management.
Can presenting driving as a leisure activity constitute a danger?
“Earlier access to driving does not imply a significant reduction in road risks,” believes Christophe Ramond, of the Prévention Routière association, who sees neither a good nor a bad eye the initiative.
For children, it would be more important to teach them how to tie up well.
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