Please explain
From The West Australian
By Vivienne Prandi
January 18, 2006
Does Grant Dorrington (Stop
killing yourself plea to bush drivers, 9/1) really know why young
adults in the country are over-represented in road crash statistics?
We in the country have a pretty fair idea, especially when it comes
to the lack of initial driver training.
Teenagers in small country towns have
no access to driver training and learn from parents or other adult
drivers. They don’t get the type of driver education that city
dwellers take for granted.
Three years ago our Safer Kojonup committee
initiated an advanced driver training course for our youth. It has
been very successful, with none of the participants being involved
in accidents subsequently. They have been instructed on the effects
of speeding, alcohol consumption, the use of seatbelts, how to avoid
accidents and driving for the prevailing road conditions.
Last year, our committee attempted to
obtain a grant from Roadwise under the Community Road Grants Program
which states that the aim of these grants is “to prevent road
crashes causing serious injury and death”. Mr Dorrington, the
grant application was rejected on the ground that such driver training
and education did not meet the criteria.
Luckily, with the support of the local
Rotary Club, shire council and many dedicated volunteers, Safer Kojonup
was able to run the course.
If educating our country drivers to become
responsible road users is not a priority for funding, then please
stop laying the blame on our communities.
