Youdrive Young Driver Development Program for Schools

Objective of the program

To develop an integrated car driver training and licensing program that is available to secondary school students and which.

  • Focuses on individual driver needs rather than just achieving a licence
  • Targets long-term behavioural change and higher order skills as a means to improving road safety
  • Complements existing school programs of learning and NZTA licensing requirements

Background

For many years youths have been over represented in vehicle crash rates in the New Zealand road toll. Road accidents are also the single greatest killer of 15 to 24 year olds in New Zealand and the single biggest cause of permanent damage in this age group. There is also a huge social dollar cost to these statistics.

Some of the main contributing factors for high youth crash rates are as follows.

  • Lack of youth experience, insight and skills that are required to drive a car. Skills such as night driving are not always taught.
  • Inappropriate training by parents or similar who are not always best placed to be teachers.
  • Youths are risk takers but often do not fully understand the potential consequences of these risks.
  • There are number of age-related influences and pressures that impact on youth driving today.
  • Driver training is not always an integrated component of licence achievement. There is too much focus of just achieving a licence.

What are the core requirements of a successful youth driver training program?

A mixture of practical and theory components need to be combined. A driver learning program should not be a one-off event but needs to be a process of ongoing skill development, reinforcement and feedback.

Situational awareness and the development of higher order skills are critical in addressing the underlying cause of accidents, rather than just focusing on technical driving ability.

Training needs to be tailored to the needs of the individual with a mix of class room and one on one practical training, in a coaching environment.

Existing learning programs such as those taught in schools need to be built on and the proposed course seen as a natural progression in a student's learning program.

How is the Youdrive School Program different?

  • The program is designed to complement the existing driver licensing process with the main objective to develop higher order skills in young drivers.
  • We use a mix of delivery methods and incentives to keep the course interesting for young people. A combination of practical and theory training as well competitions with prizes will help to keep interest levels high.
  • We are focused on working with secondary schools including Gateway Coordinators to integrate this program into the current NCEA curriculum. and incorporating a number of relevant unit standards

Overview of the Youdrive School Program

The course is broken into four modules and is built around with the three stages of getting a car licence.  Each module can be done as a standalone training program. The total training time is approximately 5 days over the lifecycle of achieving a full drivers licence.

Module 1: Learners Licence Phase. Theory. 2 days

2 Level 2 unit standards. 6 credits

  • Knowledge of traffic law
  • Driving Hazards and risk reductions strategies
  • Road code questions and sample tests

Module 2: Restricted Licence Phase. Theory and Practical. 2 days

6 Level 2/3 unit standards. 14 credits 

  • Risk reduction techniques and strategies while driving
  • Understanding light motor vehicle systems and components
  • Carry out pre-drive vehicle checks
  • Executing low speed maneourves eg parking
  • Applying control in a light motor vehicle

Module 3: Full Licence Phase. 2 days

3 Level 2/3 unit standards. 9 credits

  • Human risk factors in driver self management
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skill for a full Class 1
  • Dynamics and techniques for managing a light motor vehicle.

Module 4: Defensive Driving Course. 9 hours

Must have held a restricted for 6 months. Allows shortening of licensing period by six months.

The building blocks of the training course are as follows.

  • Unit standard based training which meets NCEA requirements and is built on the individual driver responsibility and situational awareness.
  • The training program supports the current graduated driver licensing process
  • Reinforces good decision making in young drivers with getting a licence only one outcome.
  • Is designed to work within the school environment

The course is designed to be fun with a mix of delivery methods and incentives to interest young people. Instructors will act as mentors during the course ensuring the needs of the individual are met and that there a permanent change in students attitude to driving.

Risk areas for young driver as identified in the latest research will be covered during the course. These include.

  • Technical vehicle control and risk awareness
  • Identifying own personal limits e.g. reaction times, stopping distances
  • Over estimation of own skills and underestimation of risk
  • Sensation and thrill seeking
  • Driving with peer passengers
  • Alcohol and Drugs
  • Driving when tired

     

Why AMS is the right organisation to partner with schools, in this program.

  • We are suitably qualified and experienced in driver training
  • We have a culture of quality management and continuous improvement
  • We have a team of trainers who are experienced in dealing with secondary school students
  • We have always been at the forefront of driving training and care about road safety
  • We are a credible Private Training Establishment having been in operation for over 10 years and have a good relationship with stakeholders