NEW BID TO DRIVE SAFER CARS FOR COUNTRY KIDS

By JEFF GIBBS

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The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has announced a statefirst program, the Safer Cars for Country Kids initiative, to help young drivers in regional NSW get behind the wheel of a safer car. The program will provide a $5000 subsidy for up to 1,000 young drivers to help them purchase a safer vehicle.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the program aims to reduce the risk of serious injury or death in car accidents for country kids by getting them into safer cars.

“We will get old and unsafe cars off our country roads and make it easier for young drivers to get behind the wheel of a safer car,” he said.

Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the initiative recognized that young drivers are more likely to inherit or buy an older, cheaper or less safe vehicle as their first car.

“Every parent wants to know their kids are in the safest possible car when they head off down the road, especially in the regions where they are driving longer distances and dealing with additional challenges like dust and roos,” Mr Toole said.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the program will be trialled with 50 young people in selected areas before being rolled out in phases to all regional areas. Eligible participants must be under the age of 25, and driving a car with a used car safety rating of 1 or 2, or unrated and over 16-years-old.

“Having good and effective programs that help our next generation of road users such as Safer Cars for Country Kids, will help to keep our great state moving forward,” Mr Farraway said.

The average age of vehicles in NSW is 10 years, and it takes longer for newer cars with better safety technology to filter out to younger drivers, especially those in regional areas.

Electronic Stability Control and advanced safety features such as, autonomous emergency braking or Lane Keeping System technologies have proven to reduce crashes.

Peter Frazer OAM, President of Safer Australian Roads and Highways, said the initiative will help save lives.

“Too many novice drivers in our regional communities are killed or seriously injured simply because their vehicles are not as safe as they could be,” Mr Frazer said. Driver education specialist Matthew Irvine said staying safe on the road presents extra challenges for young people living in the country.

“People living in regional NSW usually spend more time on the road, driving longer distances and at higher speeds. Programs such as the one announced today will definitely help keep our young people safe on the roads,” Mr Irvine said.

The Safer Cars for Country Kids initiative is an important step in the right direction to improving safety on the roads for young drivers in regional NSW. The

$5000 subsidy will help give young drivers access to safer cars that are equipped with the latest safety technology, and hopefully will reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on our roads. Along with the financial assistance, the program also aims to raise awareness of road safety and the importance of being in a safe vehicle. The program is an important step in supporting young drivers in regional NSW, providing them with the opportunity to upgrade to a safer car and giving their families greater confidence in their safety every time they’re on the road.