Street Smart, a practical driver training programme designed for teenagers, resumes again during the second week of the school holidays with a new session in Cromwell.

Originally scheduled for April but postponed in the wake of the pandemic, the one-day Street Smart session at Cromwell’s Highland Motorsport Park, co-funded by the Central Otago District Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council and Street Smart, will now take place on Wednesday July 15.

Street Smart programme director Hayden Dickason said the supervised programme conducted by qualified coaches equips young Kiwis with the tools needed to help be safer and more aware drivers on our roads.

“There is a focus on developing good decision-making strategies for safe driving, including assessing themselves, reading the road environment, resisting peer pressure, managing or eliminating distractions and planning ahead,” he said.

Wanaka driving instructor Lyal Cocks, who has coached at two Street Smart sessions at Highlands Park, said the “hands-on” driving experience is of significant benefit to young drivers. 

“This is a great opportunity for drivers to experience some of the risky situations they may come across but in a safe and controlled environment,” he said. 

Drivers are given a range of advice by qualified coaches, from setting up the driver’s seat and mirrors through to how to recognise and react to potential road hazards. 

Each driver works through a series of practical exercises at 10 stations throughout the park, such as following too close, hazard identification and distractions, safe driving on unsealed surfaces, vehicle maintenance (including changing a tyre), experiencing the closing speed of a head-on collision, and slow-speed maneuvering in tight spaces. 

“It reinforces the need to assess driving situations with a greater awareness of what could go wrong and how to react to reduce the risk. It alerts some young drivers to their deficiencies but also increases capability in those lacking in confidence,” Lyal said.

He said feedback he’d received from parents who attended with their teenagers suggested they also learn from the day’s experience and they often want a go at some of the practical exercises themselves.

Drivers at every stage of experience, from Learners, Restricted or Full license holders, can all attend.

The programme has been developed with the involvement of world-renowned road safety expert Peter Sheppard and is supported by professional racing driver and programme ambassador Greg Murphy who is a passionate road safety advocate.

Greg says the programme is “hugely important and potentially life saving” for young drivers.

Registrations can be completed via the Street Smart website here.

PHOTOS: Supplied