Driver Education Course

I am a 21 year old male. I have had one speeding fine in over 3 years of driving. 97 km in a 80 km zone. I drive a Ford XR6 Turbo Ute which has plenty of power.

I do not drive erratic which I think is a reason I have never caused a car accident and I know my limits behind the wheel. I do not try and go around a corner too fast, for fear of losing control. I just don't know how my car will react if I try and do 140 km around a tight bend or doing a fishtail in a built up area.

I think that a driver education course is needed, something similar to the program involved in getting a motorbike license. The course could be incorporated into high school somehow, something that my mum did in the USA 30 + years ago. It should be compulsory and teach young people how to control a car properly. For example, what it is like to lose control at 60 km around a corner or braking distances in wet weather and an obstacle course should be included.

In conclusion, speed does not kill. Inexperienced drivers Kill.(Within logical Reason)

Mark Paine

Visual Impact

I joined the RAAF as an apprentice and I and my peers were shown shock horror movies of traffic accidents from the American police movies. We saw all types of injury to all ages of people, uncensored, and it made us all aware of the problems of speeding and alcohol.  It also made us safer drivers. Perhaps we should have this type of video education given to P platers who break the traffic rules.

Peter Spencer

Has anyone from the traffic unit ever decide to publicly display cars where drivers and passengers have been killed to show more awareness? Here in the Northern Territory cars are shown on a major intersection on the highway just to show happens when speed and drinking has caused accidents and deaths

Kym Williams

I am a 47 year old female. My father, the late Doug Dumas, was a senior constable stationed at Dawson St.  When I got my licence he took me to the police garage where all the wrecks from accidents were housed & gave me a full tour, close up & very confronting. I have NEVER forgotten this lesson. Maybe it should be part of the licensing requirements along with the 120 hours.  Maybe then people will take responsibility for their actions & others lives.

Lee Brennan

Mentor Program

It is about time we limited P plate drivers to 4 cylinder cars, and introduced a driver sponsor scheme whereby a  responsible mature driver takes on a mentor role and works with new drivers to learn respect for the roads and responsible driving. Loose the confidence of a sponsor and loose your license until you find another one...

e.g. If the P Plater is pulled over between 6 am and 6 pm and the sponsor does not know where they are, then they should face consequences.

My intention is not to blame the parents who have lost kids in these tragic car crashes, it is simply to have someone formally appointed to mentor the kids and know when the kids are about to make a bad choice and try to steer them in a better direction. Unfortunately we wont save them all, but we can make a difference with some.

Kim

Reporting P-platers

To complement the above, I would also like to see a Crimestoppers style website set up as 'hoonstoppers'.. sadly I so often see really dangerous driving by P platers and have no idea how to report it and who to. If I could send off my concerns via a website to enable additional data to be collected to assist local police in targeting hoon behaviour in specific locations or if enough people report the one driver, then specific drivers, it has to help.

Kim

Parental Support

I would like to put forward my idea to focus on behaviour.  Could the government bring out a parents pack that gives information to parents to sit down with their children to show what can happen when things go wrong and to let the kids know what life would be like with out them and the impact that it has on the whole family.  I never could quite understand my my Mum always wanted to know where I was until I had children of my own.  This would allow the children to discuss consequences with parents and 'tug' at the heart strings of both parent and child.  The idea can be broadened but it is a start.  I needed to share this as I feel it has merit.  My career is in Health and Safety and protecting people is important to me.

Mathew

Zero Tolerance

1. Speed limit their cars to 100kph, not 80kph as trucks do 100kph
2. Raise all fines and demerit points to double for "p" platers
3. 4 cylinder cars only for "p" platers with no modifications allowed, as some 4 cylinder cars can beat some v8 cars
4. Any modifications found on their car is to be impounded for 6 mths 1st offence
5. Taking classes with the SES, Emergency Services and the Police

I'm not to sure what else u could do but to take their licence off them.
Many thanks for listening and I know how their felling as I lost my mother when I was 13 due to a drunk driver

Kev McDonald

The road toll is a worry, no doubt we would all like this carnage to stop!! I have lost a brother, hit by a drunk driver in 1965.

1.Nil alcohol whilst driving a car(as in Dubai)
2. Nil some prescription drugs whilst driving a car.
3.Thoes pulling a caravan, need a special licence.
4.A speed Governor in ALL cars( except police etc. of course)
5.A road worthy annually on all cars.
6.Finally, destracting things like phones,music,children, animals and 'things'dangling from the rear vision mirror, should be addressed.

A radical approach?

Brenda Munro Kendenup W.A.( Formally from Ballarat)

In-car cameras for the public

Kimberley, 14 years old.

Response from Victoria Police

If there are any positives to take from the horrific, tragic collision that occurred in Mill Park on Sunday morning, it is that it has sparked so many comments and conversation in the community about road safety.

When five young people lose their lives in a crash, I encourage the community to think long and hard about the types of driving behaviour that can cause such devastating collisions.

In many fatal crashes police see speed, alcohol, hoon behaviour – or a combination of all three – as contributing factors.

It is worth noting that the vast majority of drivers in Victoria ‘get’ the road safety message.

Most people understand the risks associated with excessive speed and having one drink too many.

Unfortunately, there are a small number of drivers who refuse to heed our warnings.

I strongly believe our enforcement strategies are working.

In 2009, Victoria recorded its lowest road toll for the second consecutive year and police will work harder than ever to lower that number again this year.

I certainly appreciate your input on the matter. I will continue to monitor the community feedback, as it is important we work together to ensure that tragic collisions such as this one do not happen again.

Ken Lay
Deputy Commissioner Road Policing

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