ROOFER Tony Wrigley is climbing the ladder to a new career after worried parents clamoured to join his quirky road safety campaign.
The 56-year-old Salfordian was so concerned about his sons’ poor driving skills after they passed their tests that he put together a tape of their favourite songs to play in their cars.
But in between each track Tony recorded himself reading out driving tips. So after songs like Kings Of Leon’s Sex On Fire, Tony’s voice piped up with advice on speed and stopping distances.
His sons Mike, 24, and John, 22, said their dad’s words of wisdom had made them more safety conscious and the idea has also been a hit with parents, who have been queuing up to ask Tony to do a tape for their own children.
Now roofing contractor and former marine engineer Tony has taken his road safety crusade a step further by launching his own Drivesafeuk.com audio CDs for young motorists to play in their cars.
He has recruited BBC World Service announcer Mike Cooper to do a more professional voiceover and although there is no Kings of Leon on the CDs, Tony is using instrumental music in between the tips.
Tony, from Swinton, near Manchester, said: “After Mike and John passed their tests, I was taken aback how fast they were driving. I was really worried about their safety.
“I wondered how I could get across my own 40 years’ driving experience in a way that they would listen, so I had the idea to do them a tape of their favourite songs, with me speaking in between the tracks to give them driving tips.
“It was like I was in the car with them. It seemed to work and they have slowed down. Then some of their mates’ parents started asking if I could do a tape for their sons and daughters and it took off from there.”
John said: “It worked for me and really made me think about my speed and stopping distances.
“I’d be listening to Kings of Leon then my dad’s voice would come on telling to slow down and why. My friends thought it was hilarious at first, but it really works.”
After the success of his tapes, Tony, who has had his own roofing business for more than 20 years, began researching road safety and was shocked to discover that out of the 2700 road deaths in 2008, 670 of these were people aged under 25 .
The numbers of young drivers are rising and figures show that their first three months on the road are the most dangerous as they go it alone without supervision.
Tony, who lives with partner Michelle and has two younger children Anthony, 12, and Lauren, seven, said: “Let’s face it, many young drivers pass their test after less than 20 hours of tuition and are free to take to the roads with no follow-up programme to monitor their progress. I can’t think of another walk of life where you can do this.
“Hopefully these CDs will help remind them of what they should be doing and why.”
Although his CDs contain more sensible instrumental music, parents have praised Tony’s work.
Ted Bruce, of Farnworth, Bolton, said: “My stepdaughter has been using the Drivesafeuk CDs continuously and they have given her more confidence. She says the bit on keeping your distance really gets the message across.”
Tony’s Drivesafe UK audio CDs, which are also available in MP3 format, are available from www.drivesafeuk.com
