Driving initiative takes off
Beneficiaries and people with thousands of dollars worth of driving fines are among those set to benefit from a learner driving programme launched in Timaru.
The Community Driver Mentor Programme is a Salvation Army initiative, pioneered in Christchurch in 2014, that helps people upgrade their learner licence to a restricted one, boosting their job prospects.
The programme launched in Timaru last week and already has seven people signed up, referred by the Ministry of Social Development, with more referrals expected as police get on board, Salvation Army driver programme regional co-ordinator
Chloe O’Neill said.
‘‘We have the 20 mentors we needed, now it’s just a matter of matching them to enough drivers. I’m really excited to help our clients and transform their lives.’’ Salvation Army driver programme co-ordinator Struan Cain said the programme is also working with welfare, wellbeing, and employment organisations.
Cain said some taking part in the programme had substantial fines for licence infringements, from not donning learner plates to driving outside curfew.
‘‘One guy coming onto the programme has $30,000 worth of fines.’’
Sergeant David Hinde, of Timaru, said he had signed up six constables as mentors for the programme. ‘‘They’re highly motivated to get the job done,’’ Hinde said.
‘‘This programme is going to be really good for Timaru. It’s all about breaking down barriers. I’m looking forward to working with the Salvation Army.’’
Timaru District deputy mayor Steve Wills said the council is keen to get behind the programme because of its impact on the community’s future.
‘‘We can only encourage people to get out there and support the scheme.’’
Hilton Haulage director Peter Anderson, formerly of Timaru now living in Christchurch, was part of organising two cars for the Timaru programme.
‘‘We know that inexperienced drivers going 100 kilometres an hour, in the dark, with a truck going 90km can be pretty scary,’’ Anderson said.
‘‘We try to work with any programme focussed on making our roads safer.
‘‘The small part I can do is use my business connections to give these guys the tools they need.’’
In total, Anderson had supplied the programme with 16 cars – including four in Christchurch and six on the West Coast.
‘It’s an amazing programme to watch grow,’’ he said.