RoSPA Qualifications has expanded into Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East in a move to enhance the safety of work-related driving in the regions.

L-R: RoSPA chief executive Errol Taylor and Rodion Manikaev from A-Driver in Russia

The Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation is opening six driver education centres in Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East to deliver driver training road safety courses.

The Induction Centre (Kuwait), A-Driver and Safety Drive (Russia), Adex Akademi (Turkey), SHEiDA International (Oman) and Baitau Partners (Kazakhstan) are now all able to deliver the RoSPA Level 2 Award in Defensive Driving (International).

Drawing on the Royal Society of Prevention of Accidents’ (RoSPA’s) 104 years of road safety expertise, the course will help learners to understand the factors that can influence a person’s ability to drive safely, and provides the skills to reduce these risk factors and enable the candidate to develop a positive attitude towards driving.

RoSPA’s executive head of qualifications, Julia Small, said: “According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries caused an estimated 1.35 million deaths worldwide in 2016, with some of the highest fatality rates being recorded in Russia and Middle Eastern countries. I am sure that the six new centres will help reduce causalities on the road in their regions by upgrading the skills of local motorists who drive for work.

“This is a significant moment for RoSPA Qualifications and I look forward to sharing the success of our new partnerships in Russia, Turkey, Oman, Kuwait and Kazakhstan.”