Unique in the quadricycle market, the Citroën Ami not only offers a new urban mobility solution, but also a whole range of new applications that were not originally foreseen, such as its use in airports. However, thanks to its unique concept and accessibility, the Citroën Ami can also give young people in rural areas access to clean and accessible mobility, as demonstrated by the experiment carried out by the French Driving School.
Jean-Pierre Martin, a passionate advocate of accompanied driving, has launched a unique experiment in France, at Cherveux in Deux Sèvres, at the crossroads of social issues and the mobility of young people in rural and peri-urban areas. In a context where young people from rural areas often struggle to find suitable transport solutions, this project is proving to be a real breath of fresh air. The vehicles chosen for this experiment are four Citroën AMIs, which are proving their educational and social usefulness by giving young people from Saint-Maixent l'école, La Chapelle Bâton and Chauray new freedom. Noémie, Killian and Tiffany, aged between 19 and 24, are the first to benefit from this project. They are now able to move around independently, a major change in their daily lives. For almost all of them, the nearest bus lines are more than 10 km away.
The aim of this project is clear: to offer a sustainable mobility solution to young people who have neither a driving licence nor means of transport and who, from the age of 14, cannot always rely on their parents to get them around. Jean-Pierre Martin explains: "In rural areas, it is often difficult for young people to get around without relying on their parents or friends. These Citroën AMIs give them independence and self-confidence. Much to the relief of their parents! "This project is therefore not only a practical response to a mobility problem, but also a social initiative aimed at empowering young drivers. These young beneficiaries, who are in civilian service, have benefited from 3 months of specific support to learn to drive these electric vehicles independently. They have acquired the minimum skills needed to drive safely and are ready to use Citroën AMIs for their daily journeys, whether to school, work or simply to get around.
This is not the first time that Jean-Pierre Martin, who initiated the project, has been convinced of the benefits of accompanied driving. At the beginning of the 1960s, at the age of 23, he set up his first driving school, and since then he has been committed to improving the training of young drivers. In 1985, he was part of the ministerial team that invented AAC (Anticipatory Driving Learning), which became known as 'accompanied driving'. At the age of 81, he continues to fight for the universal use of accompanied driving.
With the support of Citroën, his initiative aims to improve the mobility of young people and their families in rural areas while empowering young drivers. Citroën AMIs are not only ecological and safe, they also reduce the collective carbon footprint while optimising daily travel. Jean-Pierre Martin emphasises that this method, which combines sustainable development and autonomy, could revolutionise the way young people approach their various forms of soft mobility in general.
The experience could become a model. Solidarity transport, car-sharing and car-pooling projects are being tested to meet the needs of people living in rural areas. The provision of vehicles such as the Citroën AMI could revolutionise mobility in these regions, providing a solution in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and road safety by 2030. Finally, this initiative proves that, with innovation and determination, it is possible to respond to the mobility needs of rural and peri-urban areas by offering young people a path to autonomy and freedom. Through this experiment, Citroën and Jean-Pierre Martin are demonstrating that it is possible to combine ecology, technology and social responsibility to create a future in which mobility is no longer an obstacle but an opportunity for everyone.
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