Horror stats prompt need for better driving skills
HORROR stats have prompted a defensive driving school to lobby for an upgrade of Mount Penang Parklands to make it suitable for advanced training courses.
Central Coast
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FIVE deaths on Central Coast roads in as many weeks.
This sobering statistic has prompted a defensive driving school to lobby for an upgrade of Mount Penang Parklands to make it suitable for advanced training courses.
Currently the Academy of Road Safety offers Level 1 defensive driver training about once a month on the site’s existing roads.
But director Ron Shah said certain manoeuvres, such as emergency braking, were limited to a top speed of 80km/h.
He said an upgrade could allow it to offer Level 2 training, which it does at the Penrith Regatta Centre, and include far more “advanced crash avoidance techniques”.
He met with Terrigal state Liberal MP Adam Crouch and Robertson federal Liberal MP Lucy Wicks this week to discuss funding for the upgrade and sought their support in making advanced driver training courses compulsory in high schools.
Mr Shah said the death of Annabelle Deall at Terrigal on Saturday night capped off a horror run on our roads, which has seen 14 deaths since January.
“What needs to be pointed out is that not all people involved were the driver – some of the fatalities included passengers and pedestrians,” Mr Shah told the Express Advocate.
“This year alone, the Central Coast road toll sits at 14, with some of these being children. This means that nearly two people die on Central Coast roads every month.
“The biggest problem with young drivers is the crash avoidance gap, or three-second rule. They don’t use it and they make the risky decision and steer the car either left or right.”
Mr Crouch said he supported a push to get advanced driver training into schools to help educate young drivers.
“I have done the advanced driver training course some years back and it was incredibly beneficial to me in knowing how to handle my car in unexpected weather conditions,” he said.
“I would like to see this program expanded on the Central Coast and, in particular, into our schools.”
BIN INITIATIVE A WHEELIE GOOD IDEA
AS far as road safety initiatives go, this one is a wheelie good idea.
The Australian Road Safety Federation (ARSF) is urging Central Coast residents to use their garbage bins in the fight to reverse an alarming trend which has seen 2016 already on track to equal the number of pedestrian fatalities recorded last year.
Pedestrian fatalities increased for the third consecutive year to 165 in 2015 and the federation hopes life-size stickers of children appearing to dart out onto the road will help motorists become more vigilant.
The images are based on research which found that signs depicting motion resulted in faster reaction times.
More than 5000 of the stickers have been distributed across the country and some councils have bought them in bulk to make them available to residents.
“Between January and May this year 67 pedestrians were killed on Australian roads,” federation boss Russell White said.
“If trends continue the number could reach or even exceed last year’s number of 165.
“We also know that the statistics show fatalities are higher on weekdays when over 82 per cent of this year’s fatalities have been recorded.”
Last month 100-year-old Agnes Phillips died after she was knocked over by a delivery van in her own driveway at Ettalong Beach, while mother-of-four Annabelle Deall was killed crossing the road at Terrigal on Saturday night.
Mr White said NSW had recorded almost half, or 46.3 per cent, of all pedestrian deaths across the country.
“The ‘life saving’ sticker campaign provides a real-time reminder to motorists to reduce their speed,” he said.
“Our research tells us that for every fatality, there are between 20 and 30 injuries. With the impact on family and friends, that’s thousands of lives shattered every year.”
The stickers are available to buy for $10 plus postage.
For further details call 1300 723 843 or email info@australianroadsafety foundation.com
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