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By STEFANIE DURAN, MATTHEW BRODTKE, ADRIAN CHIRCOP, JANNEY LAO, PABLO MARALES, AND ALLY PIPITONE.
The new Driving with Attitude program proves to be a winner
This entire news feature was produced by students from Westfields Sports High School. Under tuition from the Champion,
as a practical work experience co-project. Special thanks to teachers Heather Clarke and Garin Down.
READY TO ROAR..English head teacher Gerry Freer with the V8 Supercar.
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Photo: GRANT WILKINSON
THE 22 people who died on Fairfield roads last were 22 too many. And with three of its own students among such sad statistics, Westfields Sports High Schools put its concerns into action by hosting the new Driving with Atitude program. |
This is aimed at teenage drivers and their general attitude
to and respect for the road.
The school P&C initiative was supported by principal Phil Tucker who said he always made it clear to his students that "accidents don't always happen to other people". "Westfields, having lost three of our students to tragics car accidents, throught it's time to strike forward and raise the issue to the community," he said. The event wae held last Wednesday nightand a highlight of the evening was Channel 10 news weatherman Tim Bailey arriving to do a live broadcast from the school. But the message of the night was also a serious one, with guest speaker Sen Const Steve Galinaitis of Green Valley highway patrol offering some advise to those who chose to endanger people's lives. "If you speed and drive recklessly the least that can happen is that you will be stopped by the police and a heavy fine will be imposed on you," he told students. The worst you could possibly do is injure yourself or others in an accident, or even be killed or cause a death to passengers in your car or others." |
Sen Const Galinaitis said he and many other officers believed the learners' permit for teenagers
aged 16 years and nine months was far too young for a person to begin to understand the
responsibility that comes with driving.
"The Driving with Attitude program is a fair approach to to resolving the problem, providing education and awareness to young adults when they are getting their licence," he said. "Hopefully, we will make teenagers more aware of the risks and responsibility neede to obtain a licence." Many activities were in place: people could hold a police radar gun, drive a simulation car, view V8 Supercar and police units and there was a seminar involving presentations from the crash investigation unit and precision driving was held in the library. Fairfield Council road safety officer Allison Mortimor delivered some chilling statistics on road deaths. And when asked if Fairfield is over represented in car fatalities, she stated that last year was a bad year because 22 people were killed, so the answer is yes. continued below |
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ON YOUR BIKE...Sen Const Steve Galinaitis on a patrol bike.Photo: GRANT WILKINSON (right) TESTING SPEED... Const Rob Zanella from Green Valley highway patrol. |
Photo: JESSICA ROLEVSKA
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Also, she said, 17-25 year olds are more frequently having accidents.
V8 Supercar drivers Cameron McConville and Warren Luff made an appearance at the expo and talked about driver safety, saying: "You can't take risks on the road, everybody has different reactions and abilities." Warren added: "Speed has an appropriate place: it's on the track". Peter Karkoulas from L Trent driving school also appeared and brought a driving silulator that tested the braking and reaction time of students. "It falls onto attitude," he said "Young drivers feel invinciple." Police were heavily involved and Const Renae Barlow, the youth liasion officer from Fairfield station (and recently voted local police officer of the year), spoke of what she and other officers hoped to achieve from this input. 
SIGNING UP..Cameron McConville from Lansvale Racing team
--------------------------- Photo: CARMELINA GARZO
TESTING TIMES.... A student using the simulator
------------------------------------Photo: JESSICA ROLEVSKI |
Getting the message..Students now sticky--------- Group shot...Student body representatives ------ Photo: GRANT WILKINSON ------------------------ Photo: JESSICA ROLEVSKA "The main point is to educate and provide awareness about driving responsibility," she said. "It's more a prevention rather than a cure." The Green Valley highway patrol officers used a radar speed gun to measure the speed of children who volunteered to sprint. The fastest time recorded was Dale Jenner (28km per hour). The computer lab was set up with CD-ROMs from the NRMA, which let the students become aware of the road rules and allowed them to get involved at an interactive level. P&C vice president Joe Kovacic was happy with the night's result and pleased that Channel 10 and the Lansvale Racing team had made an appearance. Westfields Sports recommends other schools hold a similar event. 
READY TO GO...Tim Bailey (centre) with Westfields Sports director of
track & field Dan Suchy and vice captain John Thornell.
------------------------------------------------------- Photo: CARMELINA GARZO WITH speed being a major theme of the night, it was fitting that Channel 10 TV weatherman Tim Bailey interviewed John Thornell. Tim spoke to the Westfields vice captain live on air about his recent successes at the World School Championships and his selection in the Australian team for the World Juniors. Bailey's presence excited the ctowd, who later swarmed him, begging for autographs. Westfields students, the Lansvale Racing team and Green Valley highway patrol were all featured during the three live crosses of the Channel Ten news broadcast. After the broadcast, Tim reminisced about his visit to the school when he was a presenter for TV show Totally Wild and said he was impressed with the enthusiasm shown on the night. "I believe that this program is a great way of conveying it's road safety message to teenagers in today's society," he said. With thanks to  Wed 3rd July 2002 |
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