Why it’s time for ‘a line in the sand’ on driver training, according to Roadcraft

“The statistics are telling us, very clearly, that the current system is not working and every day we see the outcome of poor driver behaviour which results in road trauma and fatalities.”

Roadcraft offers a wide range of driver education courses for individuals and organisations at its purpose-built facility in Gympie.

Gympie’s driver education specialists say it’s time for a “line in the sand” to be drawn on how people are trained when they first get behind the wheel, in the wake of sobering road trauma statistics.

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The driver training facility located on Drummond Drive has taken a hard stance on the topic in light of National Road Safety Week, and heartbreaking data related to Queensland’s road toll so far in 2021.

Roadcraft Young Driver Course.

The latest Road Crash Weekly Report states 100 lives have been lost on Queensland roads as of May 16, a shocking 21 more than the 79 reported this time last year.

34 of those fatalities have come within the Central police region, which includes Gympie.

Roadcraft CEO Sharlene Makin said the current model of passing learner drivers gave them a big tick while the stats showed “the exact opposite”.

Roadcraft CEO Sharlene Makin.

“Every week is Road Safety Week at Roadcraft and statistics tell us that the most dangerous time of a person’s driving career is just after passing the test,” Ms Makin said.

“The statistics are telling us, very clearly, that the current system is not working and every day we see the outcome of poor driver behaviour which results in road trauma and fatalities.

“At Roadcraft we believe it’s time for a line in the sand to be drawn where we no longer have to accept road trauma as a price we have to pay for being a road user. Ideas such as increasing the licensing age are impractical as it disadvantages young drivers who live in regional areas without reliable public transport.”

Ms Makin said the Roadcraft education program could achieve “the equivalent of years of experience for any driver in the space of just two days” at the facility.

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“That’s how much we believe in our program and the feedback we get from participants of all ages reinforces this belief,” she said.

“Not all driver education is created equally; in fact the scope of the various curriculum models that all under the one broad umbrella of “driver training” is both overwhelming and also underwhelming from our point of view.

“We’ve proven over a long period of time that our program is effective, so we should now be concentrating on how we can roll out the Roadcraft program across Queensland and then nationally.

“The key is to step up and collaborate with all levels of Government to ensure that every driver deserves the best education.

“Every driver deserves to test their reaction to an emergency braking situation in a controlled environment with the best possible instructor by their side, before their life depends on it when things can, and do, go terribly wrong.”

More information is available at www.roadcraft.org.au.