Darth Vader actor launches UK’s first BTEC qualification in Driving and Driver Education

Star Wars actor David Prowse has helped to officially launch a new driving qualification in Nailsea.

The Darth Vader actor and former bodybuilder – who was also the face of the Green Cross Code Man in the 1970s – was in town to launch the UK’s first BTEC qualification in Driving and Driver Education at Nailsea School.

David Prowse found the force with him at Nailsea School. Superintendent Ian Smith, joined by Ian Littlefield, centre left, of Driving Force and pupils of the sixth form demonstrated their driving skills for the actor
David Prowse, famous for his Star Wars film role at Darth Vader and Green Cross Code road safety campaign

The new course has been developed by Driving Force Training Ltd, a local driver training company, in association with the school.

Statistics show that being involved in a car crash is the number one cause of death among young people and the school hopes the course will make a difference by raising awareness and giving students the skills to be safe as a driver or as a passenger in a car.

Year 12 and 13 students at Nailsea School are being offered the chance of completing the BTEC course, which includes 30 hours of practical learning in a car leading to the DSA Driving Theory Test.

Ian Littlefield, training director for Driving Force Training Ltd, has written the course with fellow director Mike Williams and Nailsea’s assistant head of Sixth Form, Phil Duncan.

Their aim was to address the flaws in the current system of learning to drive as well as examining the pupil’s fundamental beliefs about driving, their awareness of their own and their vehicle’s limitations and their awareness of the inherent dangers in the driving task.

Mr Williams, Driving Force Training Ltd Managing director, said: “Statistics show that a great number of car crashes involving young people occur when a group are in a car together.

“In fact, the risk of a crash for 17-20 year olds increases by 45 per cent with every passenger on board, and shockingly the leading cause of death among teenage girls in the UK is as passengers in cars driven by teenage boys.

“Some young drivers acquire a driver’s licence after as few as 20 hours of driving tuition which then allows them to drive independently on motorways, major A roads, and in busy city centre areas where their performance may or may not have been assessed during their driving test or even more worryingly, covered by their instructor.”