YOUNG drivers in Cambridgeshire are being asked to sign a new safe driving contract with their parents in a bid to reduce the number of road deaths. The Big Deal initiative, which has been successfully saving lives in America, is based on asking young

YOUNG drivers in Cambridgeshire are being asked to sign a new safe driving contract with their parents in a bid to reduce the number of road deaths.

The 'Big Deal' initiative, which has been successfully saving lives in America, is based on asking young drivers and parents to sign an agreement encouraging both to drive more safety.

Cambridgeshire County Council is promoting the initiative by holding road shows across the county with the next one in St Neots town centre on Saturday, August 26. DVDs, magazines and information packs will be handed out by county council road safety experts and the Cambridgeshire Advance Driving Group.

Matt Deacon, road safety officer for the county council, said: "For young drivers, a safe driving contract is a good way to show parents or carers that you are serious about driving responsibly. For parents, it helps to set sensible limitations on how and when your young driver uses a vehicle. This is not about distrusting young people, it's just about keeping them safe."

In Cambridgeshire 74 per cent of those killed or seriously injured in road collisions are males with the peak age being 18. During 2004, 82 drivers between 17 and 25 were killed or seriously injured, which is an average of nearly seven every month.

INFORMATION: To find out more contact Matt Deacon on 01480 375470 or e-mail matthew.deacon @cambridgeshire.gov.uk