A SCHEME to encourage boy racers to “max up” their driving was launched this month in a move to reduce casualties on UK roads caused by crashes.

Max Driver is the most single-minded attempt yet to get young male car drivers to address their driving style and adopt the life-saving system of car control from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Young male drivers are a high at-risk group of motorists - they are also the hardest group to influence.

The nationwide scheme is a partnership between the IAM and EMAP, publishers of cult “lad mag” Max Power. It is backed by Honda, Ripspeed at Halfords and Adrian Flux, the insurance brokers.

IAM chief executive Christopher Bullock said: “Problems often stem from over-estimated ability. A recent Max Power survey saw more than 80 per cent of young men claim that they are ‘good’ or ‘very good’ drivers. But the same sample sees two-thirds of them describing their driving as ‘fast’ and a quarter admitting that they are ‘aggressive’.”

The Max Power report, based on 1,525 respondents, suggests key safety messages are being ignored by young drivers and their perception of their driving ability contrasts starkly with the facts.

Mr Bullock said that the IAM feels that the time is right for an education and training-based approach to developing responsible driver attitudes.