School Zone Santa .Com

This was the heading of a letter to the editor, Sunday Telegraph Oct 1/ 06
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I am writing to you about the increasing numbers of deaths of young drivers on our roads.

I am 24 and have a brother 22 who has lost three friends over the past 12 months in three separate motor vehicle accidents.

I believe it is clear the present licensing system (as well as the lack of highway patrols on the roads)is failing and the situation is out of control.

My suggestion comes from a recent experience of my own that significantly changed the way I drive.

Last December I was pulled over by Police for exceeding the speed limit by 30km/h and had my licence suspended for three months.

Because I need my license for work and had a reasonably good driving record,I chose to appeal against the
suspension.

I was required to attend a traffic offenders course over eight weeks.

Various members of the Police force,the RTA and central Coast Area Health as well as several members of the community, provided education drugs and alcohol, spinal injuries,defensive driving,acquired brain injuries and the legal system as well as showing graphic footage of real accident scenes.

Faced with these scenes , along with volunteers who had suffered brain injuries and spinal injuriesit was impossible not to feel guilty and regretful.
At presnt there is nothing toeducate young drivers on the effects of alcohol on driving skills, stopping distances at various speeds and how to avoid accidents.

Restictions on certain engines and modified cars is one way to reduce the toll.
Most cars can reach 160k/mh, so it doesen't necessarily take a high performance car to produce a high speed accident.

As for the hazard perception test young drivers face in order to gain their green P plates , it's highly unrealistic., very easy to passoffers very little feedback and fails to equip young drivers with skills that can be transferred to a real driving situation.

If young drivers are made to attend the traffic offenders course or a similar one designed specially for them, I believe it will provide the necessary education required to prepare them for the road.

It took only twelve hours of my time to potentially save my life and the lives of others.

Sarah King
Green Point.
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Both letter writers make good sense.

Sarah notes the lack of Highway patol, and the need for proper targeted education.

David in his letter in the same paper has echoed my sentiments.

There needs to be more Highway patrol (in unmarked cars) and anyone caught driving while disqualified, take away their car or as I say, wheel clamp the vehicle till after the suspension and extra penalty is finished.