The driver training scheme allows 10-17 year olds to get behind the wheel and drive, instructed, in the safe self-contained Arena car park which will be transformed into a realistic road system so youngsters can work on a range of driving skills and manoeuvres in a bid to create a safer next generation of drivers.

Young Driver is the UK’s largest provider of pre-17 driving lessons, having delivered over 800,000 lessons at more than 70 venues across the UK. Youngsters have lessons in dual controlled Vauxhall Corsa – with a brand-new fleet of Vauxhall Corsa SE Premium arriving since lockdown began – with highly qualified approved driving instructors.

A road system is created, with traffic signs, roundabouts and junctions, along with special areas to practice manoeuvres such as steering control and parking. The emphasis of the lessons is on safety and fun and encouraging youngsters to consider how to drive responsibly, giving them time to perfect driving skills such as gear changes, braking and steering without the pressures of public roads.

Shockingly, one in five newly qualified drivers crashes within six months of passing their test. Only eight per cent of drivers are aged 17 – 24 and yet they account for a worrying 30 per cent of people who are killed in cars every year. But for those who have taken a Young Driver course, the rate of accidents in that worrying first six months drops by more than a half, to fewer than one in ten.

Sue Waterfield, head of marketing at Young Driver, said: “We are really excited to be continuing at Utilita Arena Sheffield. The lessons at Meadowhall were really popular but this gives us a larger space, providing plenty of opportunities for youngsters to try out lots of different driving skills and techniques – whether they’re a beginner or have already had a few lessons.

“Clearly something needs to be done to tackle the seriously high accident rates of our young drivers. Training drivers over a longer period of time allows youngsters to have a solid understanding of how to drive a car before they get anywhere near a real road. But the lessons are also lots of fun and they’re a great general confidence boost for teens and pre-teens, who take the responsibility very seriously.”

Driving tuition is available for disabled youngsters and Young Driver can also cater for birthday parties. Lessons are thirty or sixty-minute and must be booked in advance with prices starting from £42.99.

Safety procedures are currently in place to protect both pupils and instructors, including the wearing of masks, social distancing and regular hand and vehicle sanitisation.