SYKES CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT TO BACK PRE-LICENCE DRIVER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

In Parliament last night Bill Sykes, the Nationals Member for Benalla and Nationals spokesperson for Police and Emergency Services, called for the Government to back pre-licence driver education and training in secondary schools to save the lives of young drivers.

Dr Sykes asked the Minister for Transport to increase funding and government support for pre-licence driver education and training programs, specifically referring to the Alexandra Secondary College, secondary schools in the Alpine Shire and FCJ in Benalla.

Dr Sykes emphasised the necessity of these programs for the safety of all road users but particularly our youth saying, “This has been important to the Nationals for several years.”

Mr John Birtchnell of Alexandra recently wrote to Dr Sykes on this issue. Dr Sykes said, “When he wrote to me, Mr Birtchnell stated that of 60-65 year 10 students at Alexandra Secondary College in 1969, 25 were killed in road accidents in the following 10 years. The community responded to that tragic situation and within weeks raised $20,000.00 to buy a car and fund training.”

Dr Sykes highlighted the importance and significance of pre-licence driver education and training using the example of Alexandra Secondary College, “Since 1979 only 1 out of the hundreds of students who have done this course has actually died in a road accident.”

The ongoing financial pressure on these programs as the government cuts back its financial support needs to be addressed, with the example of the Alexandra community being evidence of the benefit of such education and training.

“Local Rotary clubs provide similar programs for students at Bright, Beechworth, Mount Beauty and Myrtleford schools. Over 300 students go through those programs each year.” These clubs are to be commended for their efforts and support of pre-licence driver education and training and their request for more structured programs needs to be listened to in light of their involvement in these programs.

Dr Sykes also raised the concerns of FCJ College at Benalla in relation to the increasing costs of training at DECA, the Shepparton based driver education training complex, from $240 to $450 per student.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the government to back a winner: to back pre-licence driver education and training.”

Dr Sykes asked the Government to support the programs at Alexandra, Myrtleford, and the Alpine Shire in general, as well as Benalla, and to encourage similar programs throughout Victoria in the interest of the safety of our youth.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989