A project named 'Garage Anxiety' has been delivered to 2,590 students aged 16-19 across six colleges in Warwickshire. The initiative, launched by Sharon Hilton of Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, aims to address young drivers' reluctance to take their vehicles for repairs and maintenance.
The project was prompted by Hilton's son's experience, where he was initially quoted over £2,500 for car repairs that were later found to be unnecessary advisories. Research conducted in Warwickshire found that young people avoided garages due to concerns about being overcharged or having unnecessary work done.
'Garage Anxiety' involves interactive sessions with officers from Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire Fire & Rescue, National Highways, Halfords Autocare, and Phoenix Motorcycle Training. These sessions provide practical advice, including how to check tyres and what actions to take during a breakdown or collision.
Department for Transport statistics indicate that 201 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions involving defective tyres in 2025. MOT data also suggests that over two million vehicles fail annual roadworthiness tests due to tyre defects each year.