A driver awareness training program for 16-28 year olds has been etched into Naracoorte’s annual calendar.
This follows a successful weekend involving 30 young local drivers, organised by Cr Peter Ireland, the Naracoorte Lions Club and sponsored by a raft of local businesses.
The Austdrive Defensive Driving Course event was one of many programs run by the Australian Driving Institute (ADI).
“It was fantastic to see such a great turnout of young drivers and their parents,” Cr Ireland said.
“The compliments from parents were also about the parents themselves who were learning from it as well.
“There’s quite a bit to learn about how things have changed with driving, driving styles and things like that and little things we can do to improve our driving and make it safer.
“The position of your hands on the steering wheel is one example.
“With airbags and things like that, they (ADI instructors) are actually advocating for nine and three as a safe position for your hands on the steering wheel.
“It is still being taught 10 to 2 by driving instructors who are taking kids on their learners.
“But these guys (ADI instructors Tim Ramages and Chris Olsen) have taken it to the next level a little bit, that’s all.”
Cr Ireland explained the dangerous mix of traffic, livestock and native fauna which were often found on rural roads, both sealed and unsealed, where people tended to travel longer distances at higher speeds.
A series of orange cones were placed on the road in the training area for students to learn to brake safely.
“The best thing was that the kids were actually behind the steering wheel,” he said.
“Greater than 50 per cent of the kids were still on their learner’s (L plates) and they had their parents sitting in the car there with them.”
He said the young drivers learned when braking the car that it tended to pull to one side or the other, and they had to be prepared for that.
“There was a lot about looking ahead when you’re driving,” Cr Ireland said.
“It was look ahead, don’t look in front of you so much. Look ahead and try and predict things ahead of you that you might have to brake for and avoid.”
Cr Ireland said he was “so glad” the Naracoorte Lions Club threw its support behind the event to share the running of it.
“They would like to do it every year if they can,” he said.
“We’ve already had parents come and ask `when are you doing it again?’ because they have (teenagers) who have not got their L plates yet.”
Cr Ireland said it was great to see students enjoy learning together in a group situation as well as while they were behind the wheel of their car.
“The smiles on their faces said it all,” he said.
The Tatiara District Council had supported the popular and successful training program for young drivers earlier in the year.
Cr Peter Ireland was convinced Naracoorte’s young drivers deserved the same opportunity.
But the Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s administration chose not to support it.
However, a determined Cr Ireland soon found support from the Naracoorte Lions Club and a raft of Naracoorte businesses.
“I can’t thank them enough,” he said.
He explained our young people were our greatest asset and enabling them to learn skills to help keep them safe on our roads was vital.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
