TOOLS FOR SELLING ROAD SAFETY TO YOUNG PEOPLE

This paper outlines a community based road safety program for young drivers conducted by the Barwon Community Road Safety Council. The research indicates that to reduce the crash rate for drivers aged eighteen years it is necessary to influence the target group well before they obtain their licence. By encouraging learner drivers to obtain more experience in a variety of driving conditions and to learn to drive in stages, we may be able to have some impact on the road toll for this group of drivers. Different programs will appeal to different types of personalities within the target audience. For instance some individuals will respond well to learner driver and parent information seminars, some might respond well to discussions with a senior motor mechanic, others respond well to magazines or internet sites, others would only respond to personal instruction and the more specialised programs such as Peer Education. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E208059.