KIDS MUST LEARN HOW TO DRIVE TO SURVIVE

YOUR ARTICLE ‘A heavy toll’ (Wheels, February 2020) quotes an expert saying that fatigue must be targeted along with speed, distraction and alcohol in strategies to reduce road fatalities. Yes, but let’s not forget driver training and testing. When I got my licence in 1964, the day I turned 16, I drove the testing officer from my local police station around a few local streets. He tinkered with the car radio tuner, looked up and instructed me to return to the station. I was then a fully licensed driver. I’m sure things have improved, but I don’t believe we’re doing nearly enough. I’ve had the privilege of being involved with a rural community bank, where we paid for local high school students to undertake a comprehensive driving course, including defensive driving, the importance of attentive driving and the consequences of getting it wrong. The look of surprise on students’ faces during the skidpan braking lessons was telling! Having spent most of my working life in aviation, I wish driver training would draw more parallels with aviation training. A professional approach to fitness for the task and awareness of the enormity of failing to get it right would help greatly with improving our behaviour on the road.

Bill Brook, Hindmarsh Island, SA

Well said, Bill. Personal responsibility and education have a massive part to play – Ed

The look of surprise on students’ faces during the skidpan braking lessons was telling “