Helping Learner drivers become safe drivers
Teaching a young person to drive can be a daunting task, but a number of Council workshops and hands-on driving events scheduled for November may prove of assistance to parents.
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Road Safety Officer, Melanie Lausz, said that statistics show that inexperienced drivers, especially young people (17-20 years of age) are overrepresented in serious motor vehicle crashes.
“Not everyone is confident about documenting the prescribed driving experience correctly or teaching someone to drive in different conditions.
“Consequently, Council will be holding a free two-hour GLS Workshop on the evening of Wednesday the 7 November and a Logbook Run later in the month,” Ms Lausz said.
Parents and supervisors of novice drivers have a crucial role to play in making our roads safer. The NSW Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS) requires that all learner drivers must obtain a minimum amount of documented supervised driving experience.
GLS Workshop – Wednesday 7 November, 6.30pm to 8.30pm in Council’s Moss Vale Civic Centre
The GLS Workshop provides practical advice on supervision, completing the Log Book and current licence conditions.
The presentation will reinforce the importance of a ‘stepped approach’ to allow learner drivers to obtain their initial driving experience in lower risk road locations, and then gradually presenting them with more complex situations.
Participants also learn the importance of teaching ‘low risk driving’ techniques to learners and the role of parents in establishing parameters and support for provisional licence holders.
Log Book Run – Sunday 25 November, 10am Moss Vale
The Log Book Run is an opportunity for learner drivers to cover some of the many topics included in the Learner Driver Log Book and clock up some driving experience hours.
Maps and directions will be provided for the day, taking learners and their supervisors on a drive that includes a wide range of road conditions and tasks such as random breath tests, roundabouts, traffic lights, narrow bridges and windy roads.
Bookings 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/roads.
For further information contact Council’s Road Safety Officer on 4868 0809.