Young drivers’ programme receives support after Cromwell teen’s death
A nationwide driver education programme is being given a $750,000 boost following the death of Central Otago teenager Kelan Stroud.
Stroud, 17, died in a three-vehicle accident near Cromwell in March. He had held his restricted licence for one month.
Stroud’s family decided that they wanted him to become more than another statistic, recognising that since 2020, 351 individuals aged under 25 have died on New Zealand roads.
They approached Josie Spillane, chief executive of motorsport legend Tony Quinn’s motorsport parks in New Zealand, including Highlands in Cromwell, seeking support for a Givealittle campaign.
They wanted to support young drivers through practical education and experience, in defensive driving courses.
Since then, more than $22,000 has been raised from over 300 businesses and individuals, which will be used to restart the Street Smart course at Highlands.
The Tony Quinn Foundation has announced that it will also support the programme, providing a $750,000, three-year support package to ensure it continues and is available to young drivers at other motorsport venues.
Spillane, also a trustee of the Tony Quinn Foundation, said the people of Cromwell were deeply affected by Stroud’s tragic death.
“We are humbled to be entrusted by Kelan’s family to honour his memory and provide a meaningful experience for local youth,” she said. “As parents ourselves, we recognise that the Strouds’ grief could have struck any of us.”
Quinn, who suffered a serious crash in 2022, was adamant that it was time to “move the needle on road deaths” in New Zealand.
Drivers under 25 were found primarily responsible for more than 3000 crashes in 2022, claiming the lives of 93 people and injuring more than 4000, 636 of those seriously.
More than 2000 young drivers have been through the Street Smart programme since it started in 2018, but the not-forprofit charitable trust that operated it went into hibernation in March 2022.
Supercars chief executive Shane Howard and Street Smart trustee Greg Murphy have also committed to supporting the work.
Murphy said the programme provided cognitive, hands-on learning in a controlled, safe environment to prepare young people for New Zealand roads.
“We’ve got very disturbing statistics with young drivers on the roads. These are our most vulnerable drivers, and the injury and death rates are horrible,” he said.
The programme will first be offered in the July school holidays in Cromwell to 28 young drivers and their caregivers at a heavily subsidised price, before being rolled out to other areas.