Hornsby Shire Council in Sydney’s north has thrown its support behind a new driver awareness program targeting young people.
‘U Turn the Wheel’ endeavours to change the attitudes of young road users in relation to their responsibilities when driving or riding in a vehicle with the aim of decreasing deaths and injury on our roads.
Hornsby Mayor, Councillor John Muirhead, said the program was conceived after a spate of road accidents involving young people in the area.
“Road Safety is an issue which affects us all,” he said. “It is something important to every community and Council is proud to put its support behind a program working with our young people to enact positive change.”
The program focuses on examining attitudes and issues of responsibility and then raising awareness of the huge ramifications of making a ‘wrong’ choice when in a vehicle.
“Too often young drivers are stereotyped as ‘dangerous’ and it is assumed they should ‘know better’, ‘take more care’ and ‘stop fooling around’,” the Mayor said. “But it is important that we arm our young people with the technical skills to drive safely and the mental skills to make good decisions. This program is a step in the right direction,” he said.
‘U Turn the Wheel’ is an initiative of local Rotary Clubs and is also supported by Baulkham Hills Council, Warringah Council and Honda Australia Roadcraft Training (HART). The program was launched on 7 March.
For further information contact Gabrielle Last, Manager Community Relations, telephone (02) 9847 6739.
