Jenny Fellows (second from left) with National Heavy Vehicle Regulator representatives Bethany Magill, Sal Petroccitto and Sean Carr.
John Nolan with student drivers Ruby Murray and Erica Hayes.
John Tushhuisen, Reagan Behsman, Dakota McKenzie and Ben Crozier.
Will Hindriks, Brian Purtill, Dakota Hayes, Grace Ball and Holly Hansen.
Trevor David, Nathaniel Taylor, David Ingram and Ron Wakefield.
Another group of young people is now better prepared for their pending years on the road after another successful Deniliquin Driver’s Education Program.
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The week long program is aimed at Year 10 students and comes to a conclusion today.
Founding committee member Jenny Fellows said it’s been one of the best years to date, with expanded participation from project partners.
She said this only helps young people, and the goal of reducing road trauma by educating these future drivers before they start operating a vehicle independently.
Mrs Fellows said there was involvement from all emergency services organisations which service the Deniliquin district, with added support from Sydney and Wollongong-based NSW Police Force officers this year.
All agencies assisted with the traditional mock accident at Memorial Park on Monday, and spoke with students from Deniliquin, Finley, Hay and Barham about crash safety, sharing the roads with trucks and other vehicles and Rural Crime Squad officers even discussed ATV and farm safety.
NSW Maritime was also involved and spoke about water safety, and Deni High students were given the opportunity during the week to also visit emergency services at their stations and learn even more.
Mrs Fellows said she particularly appreciated the attendance of representatives of the National Heavy Vehicle Regular, and in particular its CEO Sal Petroccitto OAM, on Monday.
“Sal made the trip from Brisbane just to come and have a look for the day, returning home at 2pm,“ Mrs Fellows said.
“I have been asking him to come and see our program in action; he said he would, and we are so pleased he could make it this year.
“He and his team from NHVR - Sean and Bethany - spoke to children from all the regional high schools on Don’t Muck with a Truck and it was so well received.”
The Don’t Muck with a Truck program gave students the opportunity to experience on road simulations with the NHVR’s virtual reality experience, complete a quiz focused on heavy vehicle knowledge, and put themselves in the driver’s seat of a Fellows Transport truck to see a truck driver’s point of view.
“While heavy vehicle safety is not a usual topic of discussion amongst young people, the NHVR’s goal is to bring the conversation to life, and help teach inexperienced drivers how to safely share the road,” Mr Petroccitto said.
“This year alone, Australia has recorded 167 fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles and 190 lives lost.
“Our studies show many young drivers experience anxiety or nervousness driving near heavy vehicles, and with our road toll only continuing to rise, this is a huge cause for concern.
“Typically, around 70 per cent of serious incidents involving both heavy and light vehicles are the fault of the light vehicle, highlighting the need for greater education, and this education starts with our young drivers.”
The program from Tuesday to Friday was for Deni High students alone, and included sessions on first aid, vehicle self defence, fatigue and car maintenance and the ever popular practical driving sessions at the Deniliquin Sporting Car Club track.
Here, students rotated through three stations - a theory session with driving instructor Brian Purtill on road rules and safety, laps of the car club track with volunteer instructors, and a short driving course on following road signs with more volunteer instructors.“
Transport for NSW also offered the program a demonstration car interlock device to aid in their education on impaired driving.
Mrs Fellows said the program’s committee continues to be overwhelmed with the support from program partners and volunteers on delivering such an important program, and thanked all those involved in 2023.
NSW Maritime took the students through the important of life vests.
The use of flare guns was covered in the session hosted by NSW Maritime.
Students were given a behind the scenes look of how things work at the Deniliquin Police Station, and other local emergency services centres.
Guest speaker Paul Fellow spoke with the students about fatigue management.
Guest speaker Paul Fellows with some of the Deniliquin High School students.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator shared important information about sharing the road with trucks.
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