IN A bid to curb its share of road trauma, the Warburton community has enlisted the help of a driving academy to help steer young drivers in the right direction.
Driver Training Academies Australia is a Ballarat-based initiative that aims to provide a depth of education rather than minimise skills.
The Class Driver program is directed specifically towards learner drivers who face the biggest challenges, according to chief instructor Trev Soby.
“Many parents have difficulty in satisfying a number of things such as getting started, knowing what to teach, worrying about whether they’re passing on bad habits and finding time to practise with their kids,” Mr Soby said.
“The purpose of this program is to lay down a solid foundation of correct habits and understandings for the parents to build on.”
The course is delivered locally but includes a broad range of driving conditions, including heavy traffic, which is difficult to find in Warburton.
“As we spend almost the entire week in the car we can go wherever necessary to broaden our experience in every aspect of class driving, from narrow gravel roads to freeways and heavy traffic,” Mr Soby said.
Driver help was enlisted after it was revealed the Shire of Yarra Ranges had some of the highest records of road trauma. Out of all 78 municipalities in Victoria between 1998 and 2002 the shire had the highest number of people killed, the fifth highest number of people seriously injured and the fourth highest number of casualty crashes.
Now, with the help of Bendigo Bank, students are able to attend the $670 Class Driver course free of charge with the formation of a new Community Enterprise Telco, which allows residents to transfer their telecommunication services to the locally owned enterprise. Profit generated by locals enjoying their usual landline, mobile and internet services is being channelled into the driver training initiative.
The company secretary of Warburton’s Community Enterprise Telco, Geoff Vickers, said the concept of a community pooling together to tackle social issues was not a new one, but an income-raising enterprise, owned and patronised by the local community was unique.
“Our community understands that safety on the road concerns us all. By funding the proper education of our newest drivers the wellbeing of our entire community is enriched.
“We’ve found a shared solution to a shared problem,” Mr Vickers said.
Warburton’s first group of three students participated in the week-long course last month, and more groups will be booked throughout this year.
– Melissa Donchi
