Practice Helping Younger Drivers Become Safer Drivers

ACC welcomes a fall in fatalities and serious injuries among young drivers, and is pleased at the role that the injury prevention initiative ‘Practice’ is playing in this trend.

Figures released by NZTA yesterday revealed that fatalities among teenage drivers fell from 64 in 2008, to 24 in 2012.

Serious injuries in the same group have reduced from 411 in 2008, to 233 in 2012.

ACC’s General Manager of Insurance and Prevention Services, John Beaglehole, says “Practice is a free, practical driving programme, which helps new drivers prepare for the restricted tests.”

Mr Beaglehole says “ACC developed Practice in collaboration with NZTA, after overseas experience showed that increasing the amount of supervised driving in the early phases of the licensing system is a key way to reduce novice driver crashes.

“Practice is all about getting out there and driving, because the more time a learner driver spends in the driver’s seat, the safer they’ll be on the road.”

“The programme involves the learner driver nominating a dedicated driving guide, and aiming to clock up 120 hours of supervised driving, before the learner gets their restricted licence and drives solo.”

Practice provides:

·        free online help to learn a range of driving skills, from basic to advanced

·        free online videos showing how to learn key skills

·        a free driving manual to help the driving guide teach, and the learner driver achieve.

Mr Beaglehole says that ACC is committed to working collaboratively with other agencies and the community to help prevent injuries.

“It’s very satisfying to see Practice contributing to making the roads safer for younger drivers, among the other measures highlighted by NZTA, such as tougher driving tests and a zero alcohol policy for young drivers.”

To find out more about Practice, go to www.practice.co.nz

ENDS

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