By NATALIE GALLENTI
It can wait.
THAT’S the message that will be delivered to Melton’s youngest motorists at this weekend’s Djerriwarrh Festival.
The Melton Youth Road Safety Ambassador team will be out in force urging drivers to wait until they have reached their destination to make that all important phone call or send a text message.
MYRSA was established to give youth in the City of Melton the opportunity to have a say in road safety. The group meets regularly at Djerriwarrh Employment and Education Services to discuss and develop road safety initiatives targeting peers in their local community with the aim of improving road safety.
Road Safety Project Officer Chantelle Epere said the group developed a survey earlier this year to help shape future initiatives.
Ms Epere said results from the survey revealed mobile phones are a major distraction on the road.
“As our phones are becoming smarter, we are becoming more dependent on them and the temptation to stay connected often leads to distraction behind the wheel,” she said.
To combat this reckless behaviour the MYRSA team has developed a distractive driving brochure which looks at the dangers of using your mobile phone while driving.
Ms Epere said ‘It can W8’ provides tips on avoiding the temptation of using your mobile phone while operating a vehicle and the penalties and repercussions for those caught.
“You can live without your mobile phone and nothing is worth risking your life, the life of passengers or other road users.”
The distractive driving brochure will be distributed at the Djerriwarrh Festival this weekend.
