WHO ARE WE?

My First 1000 Miles is the creation of David Gilbert, a DVSA Approved Driving Instructor and registered Fleet Driver Trainer based on the Isle of Wight.

This initiative was developed to support new drivers aged between 17-24 during their first 1000 miles or 6 months of independent driving—the period and age group statistically most at risk on the road. We are launching a new safety campaign providing additional support and education for this vulnerable group.

This campaign invites all newly qualified drivers between 17-24 to participate in a survey to record their behaviour, challenges and concerns. By identifying these factors, we can offer support and education specifically tailored to their concerns. This data will also help identify frequent issues specifically related to this age group, which in turn may help inform further educational campaigns to help reduce the risks these drivers pose to themselves, their passengers and the public.

By keeping a simple driving diary, participants will help us understand key aspects of their initial trips, such as journey purpose, distance, time of day, passenger numbers, and any challenges or knowledge gaps they encounter. The My First 1000 Miles team will then offer any education support at our disposal to educate the participants in the program.

All participants information will be anonymized to encourage complete honesty in the experiment.

The data is used purely to identify trends in new driver behavior, allowing us to develop better, more relevant training and safety campaigns for other new young drivers.

Step two of the campaign will involve sharing The First 1000 new drivers’ experiences via our online platforms either in a shot video or reading material.

Our website is currently being developed to offer a free one-stop platform for new drivers to access free resources to help reduce risks and learn about new or different road types and experiences they might face and suggest useful tips to help keep them safer.