RACQ survey finds bad motoring behaviour starting at early age Speeding young drivers

l CAIRNS

| Nick Dalton

AN alarming number of young drivers have admitted to speeding, with more than 10 per cent of respondents in RACQ’s Young Drivers Survey saying they exceed the speed limit regularly.

The club’s annual survey quizzed motorists aged 16-24 and found around three quarters admitted to speeding and driving while tired.

RACQ’s head of public policy Dr Michael Kane said the research showed poor driver behaviour was starting at a young age.

“We need these young people to re-set their attitude towards driving. The road rules should be fresh in their minds, yet so many of them are blatantly ignoring the law and risking the lives of all road users,” he said.

“Last year, 297 people lost their lives on Queensland roads and the Fatal 5 contributed to the overwhelming majority of those deaths – that’s speeding, driving fatigued, drink and drug driving, distracted driving and not wearing a seatbelt.

“Young people are overrepresented in the road toll. From January 1 to the end of October 2022, 58 people aged between 16 to 24 were killed, making up almost a quarter of the deaths on our roads.” The Young Drivers Survey also found respondents considered mobile phones and GPS devices the biggest cause of distraction behind the wheel, yet there has been a significant decrease in the proportion of young drivers using their phones while driving.

“In 2021, 16 per cent of respondents admitted to texting while driving and checking their phone when stopped at traffic lights,” Dr Kane said.

“It’s good to see this kind of behaviour has significantly decreased but there’s

Audi electric car raffle

l BUNGALOW

THE Audi Foundation has launched its latest fundraising raffle, with the lucky winner taking a new Audi e-tron GT quattro in Kemora Grey, valued at up to $205,512.

Since its inception in 2017, Audi Foundation has donated over $5.5 million to charity partners advancing medical treatment and technology, shaping education and career futures, driving positive mental health outcomes, and supporting sustainable communities.

Tickets are $50, with proceeds going to the Foundation’s long-term charity partners and programs including The Smith Family, R U OK?, ReachOut, The Children’s Cancer Institute, Humpty Dumpty Foundation, Youth Opportunities, Zephyr Education Inc. and Country Education Foundation of Australia.

still room for improvement, with more than nine per cent of young drivers still admitting to checking their phones behind the wheel.

“We need to get back to basics and change the mindset of reckless motorists to ensure they take safety seriously every time they get behind the wheel, if not for themselves, for their loved ones and other road users.”

The survey also found parents continue to be a big influence on driver behaviour.

“The Audi Foundation is an integral part of our brand here in Australia. It is important that we play our part to support those in need where we can. This reflects the kind of attitude and commitment we see in the communities around Australia,” said foundation chairman Jeff Mannering.

Tickets are priced at $50, available from the Audi Foundation website, via: https://bit.ly/43cDeJI

Mix Asian cuisine with gin

l ADVERTORIAL

CELEBRATING the gin distilleries of the Far North is the aim of a new event in Cairns.

Miss Chief owners Jessica and Rebecca Barnett are hosting the Gin Sum Social Club on June 17.

“We decided to combine our love of delectable Asian-inspired foods, social community and to help showcase local gin distilleries in the region and so the Gin Sum Social Club was born,” they said.

“Come and bliss out on a parade of delectable dumplings, accompanied by some of the usual delicious signature suspects, while local gin distillery expert, Wolf Lane, personally showcases one of their prized gins at your table.

“Indulge your inner