Jessica, Rebecca, Kayla and Annalise get ready to drive. 83353 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By VANESSA CHIRCOP
TRADITIONALLY schooling was the three ‘Rs’ – reading, writing and arithmetic, but driving experts are calling for a fourth, ‘road use’.
With so many young people tragically injured or killed in road accidents, one of Australia’s foremost driver education providers Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA) with Aitken College in Greenvale, have developed a formal training program specifically for young people.
“Good driver training is more than learning to handle a vehicle under some basic road conditions, it’s also about attitude to other users, appreciation for dangers and unexpected situations,” said Amanda McKenzie, CEO DECA.
“We were fortunate to be able to design this young driver education program together with experienced teachers from Aitken College.
Now we have a wonderful program that suits young people starting on their driving life.
“We want that to be a long life, not one cut short by road accidents.
We wholeheartedly believe that our training will be of more benefit to young road users than advertising campaigns.”
Last week students from Mount Saint Joseph College in Altona and Emmanuel College in Point Cook were given the opportunity to attend the launch and participate in the Safe Student Driving Program.
The students were rotated through different activities from vehicle safety inspections, to driving on DECA’s training ground.
