Our Speakers

Emma Burley
Communications Lead, TyreSafe

Tread Carefully: The Hidden Dangers Putting Young Drivers at Risk

Every year, hundreds of young drivers face avoidable collisions, breakdowns, or penalty points because of one simple oversight — their tyres. Despite being their vehicle’s only point of contact with the road, tyre safety remains one of the most under-taught aspects of driver education.

In this session, Emma Burley will share new research and insights into the risks young drivers face, highlighting how poor tyre maintenance contributes to preventable incidents and penalties. Drawing on TyreSafe’s latest campaign and real-world data, the session builds an evidence-based case for action — showing why educating young drivers about tyre safety isn’t just about vehicles, but about protecting lives, livelihoods, and licences.

With a personal perspective as both a road safety advocate and parent of a new driver, Emma will explore how we can better engage this at-risk group through partnerships with driving instructors, colleges, parents, and digital campaigns. The call to action is clear: by teaching young drivers to ACT — check their Air pressure, Condition and Tread — we can make a measurable difference.

Emma Burley has worked closely with TyreSafe for several years, leading the development and delivery of impactful communications that support the charity’s mission. 

She works alongside stakeholders, trustees, and the wider team to create timely campaigns that drive awareness and behaviour change, ensuring tyre safety remains a national conversation.

Pauline Reeves
Director of Driver Services , DVSA

How DVSA is helping to improve young driver safety

An overview of the work DVSA is doing to support young driver safety. This will include the work we are doing to change learner driver attitudes and behaviours through the Ready to Pass? campaign and how we are working better with the industry to improve road safety.

Pauline Reeves OBE is Director of Driver Services at DVSA. Pauline oversees the national strategy and operations for driver testing and training. Prior to this, Pauline served as Head of the Road Safety Division at the Department for Transport (DfT).

Simon Turner
Engagement Manager, Driving for Better Business

Driving Culture from Day One: How Employers Shape Young Drivers’ Futures

Young drivers are often just seen as just 17-year-olds learning to pass their driving test, but employers play a crucial role in shaping their behaviour, especially apprentices and graduates. Simon will describe how employers in the Driving for Better Business community have identified the increased risks for young drivers in the workforce and developed bespoke training programmes to improve their attitude to road risk. Simon will also unveil a new Driving for Better Business resource to help employers manage young and novice drivers, providing practical steps to build safer habits and lasting road safety culture.

Simon has championed work-related road safety for 20 years, the last ten as Engagement Manager for National Highways’ Driving for Better Business programme. He’s a Trustee of ARRM, key figure in Project EDWARD, member of PACTS’ Road User Behaviour Group, and judge for the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards.

Dan Campsall & Dr Özgün Özkan
Chairman & Senior Consultant, Agilysis

Workshop: 'Young drivers and the safe system'

This workshop will explore the wide range of protective measures from across the Safe System that can work together to improve young driver safety. In an hour long

interactive session, we will consider risk young driver risk factors and work around the system to highlight the various elements which could interact be layered up to eliminate harm. Drawing on international practice and UK experiences of designing Safe System interventions, participants will be encouraged to think critically and explore how they can approach young driver safety through a Safe System lens. The workshop will include:

  • Review of Young Driver risk factors from a Safe System perspective

  • Reflection on international practices and their application to local context

  • Evaluation of interaction between system elements to enhance safety

  • Consideration of behavioural diagnosis as part to intervention design

  • Planning for improvements in your area

Dan is a pioneering transport professional, with experience across public and private sectors, Dan is a founder and chair of Agilysis. He leads projects in the UK looking at integrating Safe System practice and with global institutions such as the WHO reviewing national road safety performance. He is also chair of PACTS.

Özgün is an experienced researcher of behavioural and traffic psychology, particularly interested in human factors and user experience in the traffic environment. She has worked to support clients such as Transport Scotland, TfL and National Highways with projects building Safe System capacity, and the effects of enhancing speed management.