Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt and Member for Barron River Steven Wettenhall will get behind the wheel on Saturday when they undertake a defensive driving course to promote safer driving ahead of the Far North Queensland Road Safety Summit.
Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said far too many people had been killed on Far North Queensland roads this year.
“There have been too many tragedies on our roads this year. The critical factor in many of these incidents was speed and driver error,’ Mr Pitt said.
“It only takes a momentary lapse in concentration or one reckless driver for a fatal accident to occur.”
Member for Barron River Steven Wettenhall said he hoped more motorists throughout the region would be encouraged to undertake defensive driving courses.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to make Far North Queensland’s roads safer. I hope my involvement in this course will encourage other drivers to undertake similar exercises,” Mr Wettenhall said.
“At the Road Safety Summit in October we will be talking to the full range of stakeholders to get to the bottom of the issues and find out what we can do to save lives on our roads.”
Member for Cairns Desley Boyle and Member for Cook Jason O’Brien will also undertake defensive driving courses in coming weeks.
The course will be conducted by accredited driver trainer Peter Roggenkamp who has over 25 years experience training local drivers.
Mr Roggenkamp said, “I appreciate the four local State Members finding the time to enrol in my course. I believe that the Government must look at new initiatives in an effort to reduce the unnecessary and tragic deaths on our roads.”
Training comprises of both a theory and practical module which is conducted on private roadways to ensure simulated emergency procedures on both dry and wet bitumen in a safe and controlled environment.
36 people have lost their lives on Far Northern roads this year.
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