YOUNG people below 25 years of age make up only 13 per cent of all driving licence holders in NSW yet are involved in 19 per cent of fatal crashes.
While 120 hours of supervised practice may seem like a lot, the truth is that there are many dangerous situations that might not have come up during this time, and that new drivers often have to face alone.
Most fatal crashes involving licensed drivers occur shortly after people receive their licences.
To increase awareness of safe driving practices in young people, Port Stephens Council teamed up with NSW Police to organise a workshop on 20 June for learner drivers and their supervisors to learn new things in a relaxed, off-road environment.
“The more you drive, the better you get,” said Senior Constable Rodney Minter.
“When we learn in a controlled environment, we’re better on our own. We’ve all been learners; we’ve all been here.”
Starting with a (simulated) random breath test on the side of the road, learner drivers then headed onto the main event at the Ringwood Park Motor Complex, Balickera, where they got out of their vehicles to engage with the many displays set up in the space.
Attending visitors got to watch demonstrations about braking speed and reaction times at different speeds, access many different facts and statistics, observe police vehicles up close to learn how they work, and even sit behind the wheel of a parked truck to learn where the blind spots are and what to look out for.
NSW Police members were available to answer any burning questions from the young drivers: alcohol and drug limits, the likelihood of getting a ticket for forgetting the turn signal, how to observe a safe stopping distance in a hectic highway, how often should the tyre pressure be checked, and more.
“Do you check everything in the car every time you drive? Nobody does,” said Senior Constable Minter.
“But if you’re in a crash, and your insurance company looks at your car, and you’ve got a bald tyre, they’re not gonna pay you out.
“The insurance company is going to sting you more than we’re going to sting you.”
The workshop saw a significant amount of participation, including by motoring journalist and digital content creator Glenn Torrens.
NSW Police and Council were pleased with the result of the experience, and are hoping to set up future, bigger instalments with even more demonstrations.
By Nico LOMBARDO
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