Teens gain an insight

Dargaville and Ruawai teenagers have a much better idea of the possibilities and pitfalls they will face as drivers following an all-day training programme in Dargaville on Monday.

Rotary Youth Driver Awareness was developed by Australian Rotary clubs in response to the high road crash rate among young people.

It works on the premise that it is important for them to be aware of what is involved in owning and driving a car or motorcycle before they get behind the wheel or start riding as passengers in vehicles driven by their peers.

As peer pressure is an important factor at that age the programme focuses on passengers as well as drivers.

"It targets year 11 students because this is the time most young people start to think about driving so their interest levels are high," says Dargaville Rotary Club youth director, Neil Clements. "Also, once they leave school they are not available as a group to receive such education."

Mr Clements says research shows that young drivers become less receptive to safety messages once they start driving because they get an "unfounded belief in their own competency." As a result it was important to impart the message before they got behind the wheel.

Monday's programme at Rugby Park saw the students learning from experts like the police, Automobile Association, Brain Injury Association, budgeting counsellors and driving instructors. Their messages included the importance of making appropriate decisions, the effect of crashes, budgeting and insurance, how to handle celebrating and dealing with fatigue, breaking distances and the distance it takes to stop a vehicle.

"That must assist them to make better and more responsible decisions with regard to the way they operate a vehicle and improves the chances of safety on the road for them personally and for all other road users in their vicinity," Mr Clements says.

He thanked the two schools for their involvement and everyone who contributed to the programme, including Dargaville Ford, Fulton Hogan, Gillespie Panel and Paint, the Kaipara Driving Academy and funding agencies such as RoadSafe Northland. Also principal sponsors, BOC and NZ Steel.

Driving instructor Garry Corbett, who explained the need to identify hazards, sees the course as ideal preparation for young drivers.

The awareness programme was first offered in New Zealand in 2007 and is now available in Northland, some Auckland areas , Rotorua and Christchurch. It is being extended to other areas where there is considered to be a need.

- © Fairfax NZ News