NATIONAL Car Rental has joined forces with UK Youth to sponsor the organisation's Momentum programme throughout the UK. Momentum, incorporates 'First Gear', a young driver training programme aimed at 14- to 22-year-olds, designed to improve young drivers' skills and cut accidents.

According to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, 2,310 young drivers between the ages of 17 and 21 were killed or seriously injured in road traffic incidents in 1998.