By DANE LILLINGSTONE
NEW RACQ research has reported that more than half of Queensland high school seniors have admitted to travelling with drivers they suspected had been drinking.
This does that bode well for the Southern Downs with recent reports suggesting that road accidents were costing the region’s economy $35 million a year.
The people behind Total Driver held an information night last week at Scots PGC. They are trying to create awareness in parents and teenagers that more needs to be done in preparing young drivers for the road.
Their website claims to reduce post-licence accident rates by 75 per cent.
Total Driver founder and director Gene Corbett said it was about changing the behaviours behind driving and getting parents involved in that process.
“All of the evidence shows that once they’ve got their license, the horse has already bolted,” he said.
“We’ve just had our worst road toll in 10 years. The Easter period was a 10-year high. We’ve been having more accidents per person per kilometre of travel than we’ve ever had. We aren’t preparing (young drivers) properly.”
Gene said the current focus on young drivers was just to pass the test and meet industry standards and requirements but not actually on how to drive.
“Black Toyota are on board, they are sponsoring for Warwick, Stanthorpe and the Downs region, we also have the schools on board, we were just at Scots,” he said.
“We’ll be launching on 11 August.”
For more information you can check out their website www.totaldriver.com.au or call 1300 887 352.
