19/11/95
Safety-conscious young cyclists should ultimately develop into better drivers on the roads, according to Police Minister Bob Wiese.
Presenting the Cyclist of the Year Award, Mr Wiese said road safety should be instilled in road users from an early age in an effort to create a more safety-conscious and courteous standard of driver.
“Young drivers in the 17-to-24 age group represent more than a third of those people seriously injured in car crashes,” he said.
“There is no excuse for WA’s atrocious road toll and despite the efforts of police, young drivers still ignore the dangers of drink-driving, speed and fatigue.
“I believe very strongly that educating and promoting road safety with young cyclists will help create a new breed of safer driver.”
Mr Wiese said today’s event at the Maylands Police Academy was the culmination of nearly eight months’ work, which had involved 40 schools from around the State competing in a bicycle education program.
The 12 school team finalists - five teams from the metropolitan area and seven from country regions - would compete through a series of simulated road activities to test road practices and survival skills in traffic. The Minister would then present awards to the winning team and the ‘Premier’s Medal’ to the Cyclist of the Year.
“The event not only emphasises the need for children to be conscious of road safety, but also the need to understand and practice basic road rules,” Mr Wiese said.
“As future drivers, the education and skills gained through this safety program should help reduce the incident of road trauma.”
Media contact: Mark Thompson 322 2311
