9 February 2007

Steering Dangerous Young Drivers Onto The Right Track

An innovative new programme to steer dangerous young drivers away from becoming another road statistic was launched today.

The Right Track is an intensive 42 hour course for people under 17 facing serious traffic charges that include drink-driving and other dangerous driving offences.

The Right Track is run by the EduK8 Trust and funded by Manukau City Council’s road safety programme, ACC and Howick Rotary Club with support from Counties Manukau Police.

EduK8 Director John Finch says participants do the course as part of a plan put together when they are going through the youth justice system.

The Right Track programme aims to give participants skills, knowledge and insight into their behaviour to help them to make the right choices in the future and avoid being the cause of a fatal crash.

“The Right Track is a hands-on, holistic approach to education that gets the offender emotionally involved so they confront the reality and consequences of their actions.”

“We hope the programme will have a long term effect on all participants and their peers to change the things they’re doing to put themselves at serious risk,” he says.

Up to 15 teenagers will take part in the pilot programme. They will experience the hard reality of the judicial system by starting the course in cells at Manukau District Court. A visit to Otara Spinal Unit will allow them to witness first-hand the life threatening injuries and disabilities incurred through road trauma.

Participants will also talk with the members of the Serious Crash Unit, Emergency Services personnel, the coroner and visit the scene of a previous serious crash. Tamati Paul, a promising lifeguard who had his career cut short by a serious crash, will speak to participants about how his life has been affected by a drunk driver.

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says too many teenagers are putting themselves and others in danger when they get behind the wheel.

“If something isn’t done to change these kids’ behaviour they’re going to end up having a serious crash that could ruin their lives and other people’s lives. They could end up dead if they keep heading down the road they’re on.

“There’s a culture of ‘live for the now’ and some of these teenagers don’t think beyond next week. The Right Track programme forces them to realise their actions can have serious effects on a huge number of people.

“Our road safety team and the police know this is a major issue. The programme is a positive way to impact on these people,” Sir Barry says.

ENDS

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