Toowoomba police host Learner Driver Night

Dozens of young drivers and their parents were put through their paces at the Wellcamp accommodation centre in a bid to build their confidence on the road, and drive down the rates of serious and fatal crashes.

Learner drivers and their parents heard from veteran Highway Patrol Officers about how to stay safe on our road, during the first Toowoomba Learner Drivers' Night, hosted by Darling Downs Police.

In a training room tucked away at the Wellcamp accommodation centre, 40 learner drivers and their parents faced each other and made a solemn oath

The teens pledged that they wouldn’t drink and drive, while their parents responded that they would always answer the call for lift home, regardless of the hour.

It was a heartfelt moment that came amid the first Learner Driver Night, presented by Darling Downs police on Tuesday evening.

The night started with presentations from veteran Highway Patrol officers about road rules and the consequences of the Fatal Five – speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, fatigue, not wearing a seatbelt.

Learner drivers and their parents heard from veteran Highway Patrol Officers about how to stay safe on our road, during the first Toowoomba Learner Drivers' Night, hosted by Darling Downs Police.

They also heard harrowing testimony from a young man whose life was irrevocably changed when he crashed while driving drunk and suffered a catastrophic brain injury.

He opened up on how a stupid, split second decision robbed him of the independent life he loved, playing sport and having fun, to being housebound and unable to do basic tasks, like make a sandwich.

“The instructors have seen some terrible tragedies through their careers and they are in a very good position to provide this support to young people,” Darling Downs Superintendent Doug McDonald said.

The group was then put through a driving course where they share the road with fire appliances, police vehicles and ambulance vans.

“They learn how to act appropriately when they have to deal with police, what to do when there are red and blue lights behind them, and what to do safely in an RBT site,” Superintendent McDonald said.

“Often we see people get immediately nervous when we are conducting those preventive activities and we want to give our young drivers the confidence to drive safely on our roads.”

Learner drivers and their parents heard from veteran Highway Patrol Officers, including Acting Sergeant Lyndon Anderson, about how to stay safe on our road, during the first Toowoomba Learner Drivers' Night, hosted by Darling Downs Police.

The participants were free to ask questions of the officers to get clarification on road rules and safety – effectively learning from some of the most experienced drivers on our roads.

“While a large part of our job is enforcement, and often that is our interaction with the public, we also do roles like this around education and trying to get those messages to people about road safety,” Superintendent McDonald said.

Tuesday’s Learner Drive Night was the first to be held in Toowoomba, having previously run at Ipswich, Warwick and Dalby.

Superintendent McDonald said it was important to break down the barriers between police and learner drivers.

“The feedback we are getting has been very positive,” he said

“We are trying to keep people safe and what we have found is that the parents are actually learning as much as the kids, through the videos and the lecturers.

“It is a big take away from them.”

So far this year 189 people have lost their lives on Queensland roads, with 20 people dying in the Darling Downs.

“Speeding and drink or drugged driving is still way too prevalent,” Superintendent McDonald said.

“Coming in to the wet season we need people to drive to the conditions, there can be wet areas on the side of the road and overcorrecting can lead to tragic circumstances.”