On track: Sutherland Shire motoring enthusiasts Graeme Harlor and Doug Linklater with Labor candidate for Menai, Peter Scaysbrook, and Shire Advanced Driver Training chairman Tony Brown. Mr Brown wants to establish a driver training facility at Lucas Heights.

Plans for a Sutherland Shire-based driver training program have been bolstered by tacit support from two would-be MPs.

Labor and Liberal candidates for Menai have expressed interest in the development of a dedicated driver training area at Lucas Heights.

Shire Advanced Driver Training, an initiative of Cronulla RSL’s Motoring Enthusiasts Group, hope to establish a the facility at ‘The Peak’, near ANSTO.

SADT chairman, Tony Brown, said the proposed facility could be used as part of a a schools-based curriculum.

“One quarter of all road deaths are in the 17 to 25 age group”, Mr Brown said.

“It’s a fact of life that Australians enjoy their cars and bikes, and correct training at the earliest possible time is the best way to instil the necessary skills and responsible attitudes that ensure road safety.’’

Liberal candidate for Menai, Melanie Gibbons, said she would like to hear more about the project.

‘‘I support anything that helps young drivers to drive safely,’’ she said.

‘‘If there’s a way to support young drivers, we’d look at that.’’

Her opponent, Labor candidate for Menai, Peter Scaysbrook, is a former NSW Motocross champion.

He said that motorists could benefit from improved skills.

‘‘I’ve been interested in motoring and motorsport for a while,’’ he said.

‘‘I’d like to see the area used properly, and I think this is an appropriate use of the area.

‘‘Lives could be saved by this.’’

Mr Scaysbrook has spoken with some Sutherland Shire residents about the Project.

“The reaction from locals has been fantastic,” Mr Scaysbrook said.

‘‘Local businesses have also been very supportive of the scheme, believing that the facility would have significant involvement with the local community.”

Should a motor racing park be built in Sutherland Shire? WEB DINKUS

More than 1000 people voted in a Leader online poll that asked ‘‘should a motor racing park be built in Sutherland Shire’’.

The result was positive for motoring enthusiasts, as 85.6 per cent said yes.

Motoring experts want distractions banned to reduce accidents as the annual schoolies pilgrimage gets under way

• 73% want smoking in cars banned for p-platers
• 66% say hands free phones should be banned for P-platers

Australia’s motor sport community believe distractions that can lead to accidents should be banned for P-plate drivers, according to a just released survey* by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS).

The call for change comes as thousands of teenagers across the country begin the annual pilgrimage to end of school celebrations. Australia’s motor sport community is making a timely plea for everyone to not only be safe and sensible, but to have 100 percent concentration when behind the wheel so they arrive at their destination safely.

The survey of the peak motoring body’s members found an overwhelming 72% think p-platers should be banned from smoking while driving, 66% support the banning of hands free phones for drivers on restricted licences.

“Until p-platers have clocked up years of driving experience they are still prone to being easily distracted and restricting things like smoking and hands free phones will enable them to give one hundred percent of their attention to their driving,” commented the Confederation’s Michael Smith.

“Through our young driver education course ‘Ignition’ we witness how easy young people can be distracted when behind the wheel and if such bans result in lives being saved then the Australian motor sport community are correct in their feelings to implement such restrictions,” says Mr Smith. CAMS is dedicated to road safety education, focusing strongly on novice drivers with its recently launched ‘Ignition’ program, targeting pre-learner drivers, learner drivers and early P-plate drivers – the most vulnerable group on Australian roads.

“The Ignition Program, is designed to give young people the chance to drive a vehicle and gain invaluable experience before obtaining their learner’s permit. This initiative will enable young people to develop skills and attitudes which will enhance their knowledge, but more importantly, reduce their crash risk on public roads. For this reason, CAMS is calling for the Commonwealth to introduce and fund a national rollout of Ignition to all secondary schools,” concluded Mr Smith.

Media Contacts
Angelina Anictomatis (02) 9775 7007, 0413 599 453 or Drew Lambert (02) 9775 7080, 0425 200 606

*FULL RESULTS
A total of 1999 Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) members completed the survey during May 2010.

The new CAMS Ignition Program forms the basis of CAMS’ response to the serious road safety and behaviour issues confronting young drivers. As part of this response, an Ignition day was held at the MG Car Club of Geelong on Friday 2nd July in Geelong, Victoria.

Having heard about the CAMS Ignition Program, Channel 9′s A Current Affair television crew attended the day to capture the activities and prepare a story for the show. The crew and ACA reporter Nick Coe spent the whole day at Ignition with Nick himself even hopping behind the wheel for a driving exercise.

The Ignition Program is a community development initiative by CAMS and its member clubs across Australia and is aimed at achieving better road safety outcomes for young people. The program is designed to provide pre-learner and learner drivers with the chance to drive a vehicle and gain an introduction to road safety before venturing onto public roads. It aims to start the education process early on to instill the best attitudes and behaviours in our young people before obtaining their licence.

The Geelong Ignition Program generated very positive feedback from the participants. Here are a few samples:

The Ignition story aired on A Current Affair on Tuesday 6th July, and response to the story has been overwhelming. All feedback has been immensely positive and parents and their children across the country are eagerly awaiting an Ignition Program near them.

Ignition will be rolled out across Australia over the next 6 to 12 months. Car clubs or venue operators interested in becoming involved with delivering Ignition in their area should contact CAMS using the details below. Interested participants can also contact CAMS to register their interest and will be notified when an Ignition Program is scheduled for their state.

If you were not able to see the Ignition Program story on A Current Affair and would like to, visit www.cams.com.au and click on CAMS TV.

For more information on CAMS Ignition, contact: Lauren Croft 0408 563 150 lauren.croft@cams.com.au Nominations for both the Australian Motor Sport Official of the Year and State Motor Sport Officials of the Year will close on Friday 29th October 2010.

There was a time when motor enthusiasts in Sydney had options. For a period of 8 years, after the opening of Eastern Creek in 1990, Sydney had 3 race tracks. For the mathematicians among you, that’s 2 more than what we have now after the closure of Oran Park Raceway earlier this year and the long forgotten Amaroo Park Raceway which closed in 1990.

For a city the size of Sydney, having only one option severely limits the participation in a great sport and the education of all drivers. Available track time is very limited. Eastern Creek is booked out for months ahead and grass roots clubs can’t get a foot in. These clubs are forced to look elsewhere for their track days, often driving hours out of Sydney to tracks like Wakefield Park Raceway. The distance keeps many home.

Recently, the NSW State Government introduced a scheme where learner drivers are required to fill in log books as proof of their driver training. I have a younger brother who is now licensed under this system. His many friends also acquired their licenses under the system and there isn’t a single one of them who completed their required hours. It’s just a bit of ink in a book. Rather than spending tax payers money on ridiculous systems that ultimately teach young drivers how to commit fraud, they ought to look at some Scandinavian systems and cherry pick a proper training program aimed at really teaching youngsters how to drive and what to do in emergency situations on the road.

In Norway for example, before anyone is allowed behind a wheel, they must attend a four day course which teaches them everything from basic road rules to first aid and how to communicate effectively in an emergency situation. In Sweden, a skid circuit day is a requirement. Quality systems that teach invaluable lessons for the good of all drivers on the road. A day behind the wheel of a car on the edge and beyond will do more for a young driver than any amount of hours spent forging a log book.

The point of this seemingly off topic babbling is pretty straight forward. If the government keeps tearing down tracks, the public loses driver training facilities and we’re that much farther from seeing a compulsory skid pan day as part of the licensing system. Silly TV commercials using scare tactics designed to shock people into better drivers…? The terrifying imagery on a TV screen is low impact. Kids don’t even watch TV any more. Really losing control of a car in a controlled environment and learning what to do in that situation is a very positive experience.

The simple nature of economics dictates that fewer suppliers means higher costs. With Eastern Creek Raceway being the only track left in Sydney, and their calendar full for the next few months, they can charge exorbitant rates for track hire for both motorsport use and driver training. If a car club somehow manages to get a booking for the weekend, they will have to naturally pass these costs on to their members. Paying $300 for a few laps is not good value when you can pay half that at Wakefield.

The harsh reality of a lack of venues also means increased incidents on public roads where the drivers were breaking some road rules by drifting, doing burnouts, racing or speeding. I speak from experience when I tell you that the time I spend on the track with my car and go-kart makes me a much better and safer driver on public roads. Being able to test your car and yourself on the track teaches you invaluable lessons. It truly turns you into a responsible driver on public roads where you have to contest with drivers who have very little respect for their vehicles having never experienced a simple lock up in the wet.

Not all is bleak though. There are people actively seeking alternative venues for a new driver training and motor sports facility within Sydney. Graham Harlow is one such man. He has put together a plan to use a Commonwealth owned former land fill area in Lucas Heights. The land is bounded by no development zones which helps limit noise pollution to residential zones and provides security for a long term lease.

A proposal for a race track is always met with some resistance. What can we do to help? Take 5 minutes of your time to write to Sutherland Shire Council in support of this proposal. You can phone them between 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday on 02 9710 0333, send an email to scc@scc.nsw.gov.au (make sure to add your address as they reply by post), or write them to Locked Bag 17, Sutherland NSW 1499.

July 30, 2010

An overwhelming majority (72%) of Australia’s motor sport community want driver education to be compulsory in schools, a just released survey* of almost 2000 members of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) reveals.  In the same survey, 82% of respondents also believe driver education will have the greatest impact in reducing the road toll, far greater than increasing the legal driving age, introducing zero blood alcohol levels or increasing fines and penalties.

Only 2% of Australia’s motoring enthusiasts say a standardised young driver education program should not become a fixture in Australian school curriculums. One in four believe it should be optional.

“Every week young Australians are killed or injured on the roads; a standardised driver education program specifically designed for pre-learner drivers, such as CAMS Ignition Program,  will not only improve driving attitudes and knowledge before they take to the roads, it will save lives,” commented CAMS President Andrew Papadopoulos.

Driver education is perceived by the experts as being the most effective method to reduce the road toll. A large majority (82%) believe this to be the case, more so than introducing zero blood alcohol levels (4%), increasing the legal driving age (5%), increasing fines/penalties (2%) or double demerit points (2%).

“This shows the motor sport community believes past attempts to reduce road tolls have not been successful and a focus on widespread Commonwealth funded education is needed.  A generational attitude shift must be implemented immediately, starting with our children.  CAMS members believe this will significantly impact the future road toll.  Teaching a young driver about road safety and changing their attitude is what the newly introduced CAMS Ignition Program will do,” said Mr Papadopoulos.

“The Ignition Program, which CAMS is calling for the Commonwealth to introduce and fund a national rollout to all secondary schools, is designed to give young people the chance to drive a vehicle and gain invaluable experience before obtaining their learner’s permit.  This initiative enables young people to develop skills and attitudes which will enhance their knowledge, but more importantly, the program aims to reduce their crash risk on public roads,” concluded Mr Papadopoulos.

Media Contact
Jonathan Cooper
Media & Communications
+614 58 979 381

*FULL RESULTS
A total of 1999 Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) members completed the survey during May 2010.

Should a standardised young driver education program like ‘CAMS Ignition’ become a permanent fixture in Australian school curriculum?
Yes:  72.3%
No:  2.1%
Optional to students who wish to complete it 25.6%

What would be the most effective way to reduce the road toll?
Introduce structured programs through schools and car clubs to teach car craft:  82.0%
Safer roads and cars:  5.8%

Increase legal driving age:  4.7%
Introduce zero blood alcohol level:  4.2%
Increase fines/penalties:  1.5%
Double demerits permanently introduced on weekends or after 9pm:  1.8%

Do you think it’s beneficial for children to be taught car craft (Is this what we call it – car craft?)  and how to drive in a controlled environment before they reach legal age?
Yes – this would give kids an opportunity to respect the road and its rules:  77.9%
Yes – they will be less nervous when it comes time to drive: 15.0%
No – they do not have the maturity to deal with the ramifications:  3.9%
No – this would encourage them to get behind the wheel before they are of legal age:  3.3%

How old were you when you first learnt to drive?
14 or under: 27.7%
14-16: 23.6%
16 – 18: 43.0%
Over 18: 4.7%
Over 21: 1.0%

BY DAVID MCCOWEN
22 Jun, 2010 04:00 PM

SUPPORTERS of a driver training centre in Sutherland Shire want it to focus on crash avoidance and advanced driving techniques, rather than “antisocial” behaviour such as drifting.

Graeme Harlor, a key member of a group of people wanting to install a skid pan at Lucas Heights, said the group would seek advice from Eastern Creek-based driver-training expert Ian Luff in establishing a track in the shire.

Chris Smith, of Engadine, completed Mr Luff’s stage one Drive To Survive course in his Ford Falcon XR6 last week.

The course, held at Eastern Creek dragway, focused on driving posture and attitude, as well as practical exercises.

“It’s worth it, for sure,” Mr Smith said.

“I’ll be back for the second one.”

Mr Smith, a P-plate driver, said he would support a driver training park in the shire.

“For sure I’d love to see it out there,” he said.

“To be able to learn to control a car properly is a very good thing.”

Mr Luff said driving, like any skill, required practice, and that emergency manoeuvres were best rehearsed in a controlled environment.

“When people get out of control, most panic,” he said.

“We can teach you how to brake, accelerate and steer, but if your brain isn’t sharp you’re in trouble.

“How can you perform to the maximum if your brain is the problem?”

Mr Luff said noise levels might affect the development of a driver training centre in the shire, but that it would be a positive thing for motorists.

Graeme Harlor, of Como, is behind a movement to establish a driver training centre in the shire.

But he disagreed with Mr Luff.

“I’ve heard all the arguments about noises and everything else, but I can’t see a problem with it,” he said.

However, he said progress had not been rapid, and it was not clear which government had the authority to approve a motor sport park near the ANSTO centre.

“It’s a little bit slow,” he said.

“Everyone is quick to wipe their hands of it and say it is someone else’s responsibility.”

Mr Harlor said a group of shire-based motoring enthusiasts had started a website Sutherlandmotorsportparkland.org.au to gather support.

Beginner drivers will also be banned from driving powerful cars and L or P-plate drivers who get booked on the roads will have their cars fitted with alcohol interlocks or speed limiters.

Police Federation of Australia chief executive Mark Burgess said the scheme would help reduce the road toll, with unpublished figures revealing P-plate drivers were responsible for 90 per cent of fatal accidents from 2007 to 2009.

“Our membership are the people who have to drag these young bodies out of cars and go and tell mums and dads their kids have been killed,” Mr Burgess said.

“Give P-platers some encouragement to do advanced driver training in return for some credit, then you’re likely to encourage better driving. The more that do it the better.”

NSW Police traffic services data reveals red P-plate drivers were involved in 50 fatal accidents on NSW roads from 2007 to 2009. In 45 of those accidents, the P-plater was at fault.

The plan will be launched on Tuesday at the same time as federal Parliamentarians convene a new group of MPs who are “friends of police” to encourage greater support for police officers from the Parliament.

Police are asking all parties at the federal election to adopt the idea as part of their platforms.

Under the proposal the federal government would seek national consensus from state and territory governments for uniform laws for learner and provisional license holders.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor said: “It makes sense to have consistent rules for learner and provisional drivers across the country to avoid any confusion and deliver a consistent message to new drivers.”

Among the national standards being sought by police is recognition that young drivers who take additional driving courses, deserve their full license earlier.

Senior Constable Mark Ward, a NSW highway patrol officer for the past 12 years, said having an appreciation of vehicle dynamics and the laws of physics was vital.

“It’s better to have the skills and not need them than get yourself in a position where you need the skills and you don’t have them,” he said.

Since 1945, our population has doubled and vehicle numbers are thirteen times higher. However, the toll has only increased by eight per cent over more than 60 years. This year’s fatality per population rate is the lowest since records began in 1908.

However, whilst there have been these commendable reductions in road trauma in New South Wales over the past two decades, road crashes still cause more than 400 deaths and 25,000 injuries each year on our roads. Apart from the suffering of victims and their loved ones, the financial cost to our community is around $3.7 billion each year.

With the key objective of halving the road toll by 2010, the State Government has developed the Road Safety 2010 ten-year strategic framework. Road Safety 2010 promotes strategies in the key areas of Safer People, Safer Roads, Safer Vehicles and Community Based Action.

As the lead agency for road safety in New South Wales, the RTA continues to play a fundamental role in delivering programs designed to reduce road deaths and injuries.

The 2008 toll of 374 fatalities was the lowest loss of life on the roads since 1944 and a 16 per cent reduction on 2007.
This is the sixth consecutive year the road toll has reduced, despite a steady increase in traffic on our roads.

Since 1945, our population has doubled and vehicle numbers are thirteen times higher. However, the toll has only increased by eight per cent over more than 60 years. This year’s fatality per population rate is the lowest since records began in 1908.

However, whilst there have been these commendable reductions in road trauma in New South Wales over the past two decades, road crashes still cause more than 400 deaths and 25,000 injuries each year on our roads. Apart from the suffering of victims and their loved ones, the financial cost to our community is around $3.7 billion each year.

With the key objective of halving the road toll by 2010, the State Government has developed the Road Safety 2010 ten-year strategic framework. Road Safety 2010 promotes strategies in the key areas of Safer People, Safer Roads, Safer Vehicles and Community Based Action.

As the lead agency for road safety in New South Wales, the RTA continues to play a fundamental role in delivering programs designed to reduce road deaths and injuries.

Source: NSW RTA; Crash statistics

The RTA maintains statistical reports about traffic crashes in NSW. These documents are prepared for information purposes, including research by road safety practitioners, and can be downloaded here

45 per cent of all young Australian injury deaths are due to road traffic crashes

1. Injury is the single biggest killer of Australian youth; more than all other causes combined
2. 45 per cent of all young Australian injury deaths are due to road traffic crashes
3. The injury death rate for Indigenous youth is 5 times greater than for non-Indigenous youth
4. Of all hospitalisations of young Australians, almost half are drivers involved in a road traffic crash and another quarter are passengers
5. Young drivers (17-25 years) represent one-quarter of all Australian road deaths, but are only 10-15% of the licensed driver population
6. A 17 year old driver with a P1 licence is four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a driver over 26 years
7. The biggest killer of young drivers is speeding and around 80 per cent of those killed are male
8. One-third of all speeding drivers and rider in fatal crashes are males aged 17-25; 6 per cent are females aged 17-25

Driving vision: Toyota's Chris O'Connor supports the creation of a motor-sport venue in the shire. Picture: Jane Dyson.

YEARS spent driving across the state as a sales representative taught Chris O’Connor the value of driver training.

Mr O’Connor’s role included annual defensive driving courses mandated by Toyota, his employer.

“I was doing 60,000 kilometres a year, out on the road all the time. From a safety point of view, we’ve got to look at OH&S as a priority,” he said.

“I’ve been to driver training with Ian Luff and a few of the others. It makes you so much more confident.”

Now a national sales manager for Toyota, Mr O’Connor works at Woolooware and often spends weekends driving a classic Celica with the Southern Sporting Car Club.

The club is behind a push to hold driver training on vacant state land at Lucas Heights, a proposal supported by Toyota.

“Motoring manufacturers can build the best cars and safest cars but they’re only as safe as the person driving them,” Mr O’Connor said

“We really want to see something like this.”

Mr O’Connor said a driver-training venue would be useful for people teaching novice drivers.

“I’ve got two teenage daughters myself,” he said. “They need to know more than how to reverse park, because that’s all they learn now.

“I’ve just supervised my young daughter for 120 hours and we had to make sure she could reverse park and handle the car.”

Mr O’Connor said vehicle manufacturers and importers could use a Sutherland Shire motor-sport venue to help develop and present cars, particularly after the recent closure of Oran Park Raceway.

“The primary objective we see is driver training and safety, [but] as a manufacturer, we want to be able to see something of a facility that can be utilised,” he said.

“We’ve got to make sure we have a place to launch our cars and evaluate our cars.”

A Toyota spokesman said the company recognised the need for further driver training venues in Sydney but had not been approached for funding and had no plans to financially support a motor-sport park in the shire.

Is Lucas Heights a good spot for a new car track? Click on the comment link below to have your say.