Defensive driving trial in Westport

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32531, 15 February 1971, Page 18

Defensive driving trial in Westport

(From Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT, Feb. 14.

Thirteen students and a teacher at Buller High School are taking part in the first defensive driving course of its type to be conducted by the Ministry of Transport in New Zealand.

Defensive driving is a. new approach to the problem of reducing road accidents. Courses have been organised in other centres by various groups, and the Hokitika Jaycee chapter is operating a scheme in its area. However, this is the first time the department has conducted one at a school with the intention of training students as instructors. The senior traffic instructor for the Canterbury - West Coast District (Mr A. Cawley) said there were several reasons why Westport had been chosen.

Last year the school’s principal (Mr G. A. Leary) expressed concern about the rising accident rate among young drivers and decided to place more emphasis on road safety during the 1971 school year. The now-defunct Westport Road Safety Committee had more than $5O in funds, which it was pleased to spend on the school course.

On Thursday morning two members of the committee, Messrs L. Menzies and S. Simpson, handed to Mr Leary a defensive driving kit, valued at $5O. This will

become the property of the school.

Shortly afterwards the first session of the course got under way. There will be eight sessions in all, and the final one will be held on Sunday. Mr Cawley is being assisted by Traffic Officer R. Mahoney of Greymouth. The idea is to train the students to become defensive driving instructors within the school, so that they can carry on the job of teaching this art.

“Because Westport is a relatively small centre, we will be able to observe the results of this course over the next few years,” Mr Cawley explained. “After the eight one hour sessions are over the students and teachers should be well equipped to train others. Those .who take part will be taught to recognise how accidents occur, and the steps which should be taken to avoid collisions.

“Thirty-eight per cent of all road accidents consisted of two car collsions, and, yet, a vehicle could only be in one of six positions prior to a collision,” Mr Cawley said.

There was no red tape connected with the course, and road traffic regulations were not even studied in depth.

As in other centres, those taking part paid a $3 fee, and this went to the New Zealand Defensive Driving Council to assist it in buying I further equipment.