Pupils appreciate safe driving programme

A YOUNG driver initiative offered for the first time in Otago will hopefully expand to other parts of the region, those behind the programme say.

About 40 pupils from Cromwell College and several from Dunstan High School took part in the inaugural ‘‘Ryda’’ programme for Otago yesterday at Highlands Motorsport Park.

The oneday programme is delivered by the national Proactive Drive Youth Education Trust on behalf of Road Safety Education.

It comprised six interlinked theory units completed by pupils in small groups, focusing on ‘‘driver safety’’ and things young drivers might not have thought of before, programme manager Tim Hartnell said.

‘‘A lot of young people have good carhandling skills, but not safety skills, knowing what to do if something goes wrong, or preventing it in the first place . . . they [young people] can change the gears and steer the car, but they’re not aware of the safety issues when driving.’’

Mr Hartnell said the programme, which included units about safe travelling distances and hazard perception skills, was especially relevant for rural places such as Central Otago.

‘‘A lot of these young people are driving long distances and on poor roads, so we’re trying to reach out to those most at risk, by going to lot of rural, smaller schools. That’s where we’re aiming to push into, those types of areas.’’

He said it was ‘‘wonderful’’ to have the programme finally operating in Otago.

The programme has been running in New Zealand for about eight years, but in the South Island for only about two years, and the Highlands day was the first time Ryda had been offered in Otago.

It was hoped the programme would now expand to other places in Otago, and other programmes offered by the Proactive Drive Youth Education Trust could be started in Otago as well.

Pupils taking part in the programme said they had gained a lot from the tuition.

‘‘We learnt a lot of stuff we didn’t know about,’’ Monique Bell said.

‘‘It’s going to have a massive impact on improving my driving,’’ Ethan Campher said.

Mr Hartnell encouraged other schools to take part in the free Ryda programme.

The programme was aimed at year 12 pupils, but other age groups could also be accommodated and trust facilitators would work in with schools to deliver the programme when it suited them, he said.