YOUNG people were given the chance to get behind the wheel off road – even though many are not old enough to legally drive.

The pre-driving course for 15 to 17-year-olds was run by Blackburn with Darwen’s Casualty Reduction Team and hopes to educate young-sters on safe driving habits in a bid to cut young deaths on the roads.

A three-hour interactive session, at St Bede’s High School, Green Lane, Blackburn, challenged the students’ views on not wearing seatbelts, drink and drug driving, and speeding, by showing them hard-hitting road safety adverts.

Steve Johnson, who runs the course, said: “When the students watch the adverts they are shocked, but appreciate that what is shown in the footage could really happen to them.”