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Driver First Assist receives DfT funding and partners with the RHA

Driver First Assist (DFA), the not-for-profit road safety initiative, has won funding from the Department of Transport to help grow awareness of first responder training to a wider audience.

The DfT support was announced at an event yesterday (18 January) at the House of Commons, attended by transport secretary John Hayes.

DFA also announced a partnership with the Road Haulage Association (RHA), which will see DFA training offered at a discounted rate to the association’s members.

DFA trains drivers to use life-saving techniques at the scene of a collision, providing the skills needed to help manage dangerous situations, and to assist those injured before the paramedics arrive.

Richard Burnett, RHA chief executive, says: “The DFA scheme ticks all our boxes. Proper emergency training really can make the difference between life and death for the victim... Regrettably, we can’t stop road accidents from happening – but a seven-hour course could well make the difference between life and death.”

The DFA courses are available to RHA members from this month, either on site or at RHA’s offices in Peterborough, Bradford and Livingstone.

Every DFA course counts towards Driver CPC training and has the support of all three emergency services. Instructors are either currently serving or recently retired traffic police officers, fire officers or paramedics.

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