Helping Learner drivers become safer drivers
Teaching a young person to drive can be a daunting task, but a number of Council workshops and hands-on driving events may help parents of learner drivers prepare their teenagers for safer driving experiences.
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Road Safety Officer, Melanie Lausz, said parents and supervisors of novice drivers have a crucial role to play in contributing to help make our roads safer.
“Introducing your learner to as much driving time as possible ‘in real driving situations’ is imperative to any young driver in improving their confidence, driving skills and knowledge,” Ms Lausz said. “But so too is varying the different conditions they may encounter on the road.”
A recent survey conducted by the ‘U Turn the Wheel’ youth driver safety program revealed that 48 per cent of Learner drivers had not undertaken any form of professional driver training and those that had had only completed between one and five hours of lessons.
“This means that even those that had undertaken professional lessons will require a parent or guardian to fill the gap of required hours necessary to achieve a total of 120 hours behind the wheel,” Ms Lausz said. “That’s almost 95 per cent of their total on-the-road training.”
“And as rules and regulations change, not everyone is confident about teaching our youngest road users the skills, knowledge and correct training methods to progress through the NSW Graduated Licensing Scheme.”
“Consequently, Council will be holding a free two-hour GLS Parent Workshop on the evening of Wednesday the 29 July and a Logbook Run later in the month,” Ms Lausz said.
Free GLS Parent Workshop – Wednesday 29 July, 6pm in Council’s Moss Vale Civic Centre
The GLS Workshop provides practical advice on supervision, completing the Log Book and new licence conditions.
Participants also learn the importance of teaching ‘low risk driving’ techniques and the role of parents in establishing parameters and support for provisional licence holders. Learner drivers are also encouraged to attend.
Free Learner Log Book Run – Sunday 9 August, 10am Moss Vale
The Learner Log Book Run is a great opportunity for learner drivers to cover some of the many topics included in the Learner Driver Log Book and clock up some valuable driving experience hours.
Bookings for both events are essential.
Registration forms can be collected from Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Moss Vale office, Council libraries, the Welby Motor Registry or download a copy at: www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/services/road-safety
For further information contact Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Road Safety Officer on phone 4868 0809.
Council holds four free two-hour Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS) Parent Workshops and Logbook Runs throughout year in a bid to help our Shire’s young drivers gain more experience and help prepare them for solo driving.
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s free GLS Parent Workshops and Learner Log Book Runs are supported by Roads and Maritime Services.