Heavy traffic on Safer P-platers

P-platers and their parents are keen to improve safety outcomes. 142591_01

THE TAC’s Safer P-Platers campaign has hit a nerve with parents and teenagers, with more than 100,000 flocking to saferpplaters.com.au.
The campaign, which calls for parents to stay involved in their kids’ driving, returns to airwaves and billboards across Victoria this week.
TAC chief executive Janet Dore said social research had shown parents were often not aware how much their children looked up to them as role models and for advice.
“Learning how to drive is a crucial step in becoming an adult,” Ms Dore said.
“When you consider the inexperience of new drivers, plus the social pressures at that age, parents have a crucial role to play in guiding their kids through this challenging time.
“Young people commonly face the added potential dangers of driving late at night, with peer-aged passengers, in an older car or under pressure to use a mobile phone.
“Education is a really important factor in teaching our young drivers to be safe,” Ms Dore said.
The Andrews Labor Government has pledged $146 million towards a Young Driver Safety Package to make the transition to solo driving safer.
This funding will provide a raft of road safety initiatives, including an education complex and practical safe driving program, aimed at engaging young people and the community in the prevention of road trauma.
The future of the L2P Driver Mentor Program has been secured for the next four years, where volunteers provide supervised driving experience for those under 21 who face social or economic barriers in learning how to drive.
Victoria’s most responsible young drivers will be rewarded in the package with a groundbreaking free three-year licence scheme, while communication funds will give students a stronger road safety voice in forums and campaigns across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
The delivery of the initiatives will be discussed during a two-day workshop run by the TAC and VicRoads at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 27-28 August.
Attending the workshop will be industry groups with an interest in young drivers, along with experts in road safety, education, youth development and behavioral change.