Welcome to Drivewise Borders

Drivewise Borders, is a local charity aiming to improve driving skills in the young as well as the not so young.

The brainchild of former British Touring Car champion John Cleland, who with the support of Scottish Borders Council, all three blue light services and the Institute of Advanced Motoring has developed targeted programmes to improve safety for road users in the region.

• • The under-17s programme since Covid has been under review and remains a potential opportunity going forward but logistically cannot currently be undertaken.
• • 17-25 scheme, where £200 is paid up front and on successful completion of an intensive IAM advanced driving course with final assessment drive, they get a cheque for £200 and a year’s membership to the IAM.
• • The other branch of the programme is a refresher for over-65s, helping to update the more mature road users of current topics.

- New 2024 Course Dates -

- New Initiative -

Young drivers in the Scottish Borders who sit the IAM Roadsmart advanced driver course can now win a skid pan driving experience at Knockhill circuit. Upon completion of the course - which sees the full £200 fee refunded - each young driver will be entered into a competition to win the experience, with one on offer each month.

Driving School Video

Borders Young Drivers from Drivewise Borders on Vimeo.

Our Driving Modules

11 March 2024
Drivewise Borders Courses on Offer for Second Half of 2024

The latest round of courses which aim to keep young and older drivers safe on the Borders’ roads begin in August. Spaces on the advanced driving course are available for 17 to 25 year olds, while over 65s are invited to attend refresher courses taking place in venues across the Borders. Both courses are part of Drivewise Borders, a new free scheme which aims to help drivers of all ages become safer on our roads and is funded by the Scottish Road Safety Framework. The IAM RoadSmart advanced driver scheme, which young drivers can sign up to free of charge thanks to the Framework’s funding, provides participants with skills which 99 per cent of those who sit the course say has improved their driving.

The pioneering project has helped well over 100 young people aged 17 to 25 become safer drivers since it began in April 2014. The older drive scheme allows older drivers to book a 60 to 90 minute practical driving session with an instructor, which is not a test of skills and knowledge but an opportunity to increase confidence and practice any areas that may need updated.