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Traffic program aims to save lives
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By Roderick Shaw
BLACKTOWN'S Traffic Offenders Program could save more lives if
learner drivers had to experience it, said the program's honorary
chairman, David Bamford.
"The feedback we get from people in the program is that they should have
had an opportunity to do this before they got their licence," Mr Bamford
said.
People charged with traffic offences can enrol in the program, which
comprises a series of traffic-safety presentations.
Lecturers include police, ambulance officers, RTA officers and drug and
alcohol experts.
"Most of the videos shown are very strong, powerful," Mr Bamford said.
"It's not a shock tactic, it's a reality check."
'Most of the videos shown are very strong, powerful. It's not a
shock tactic, it's a reality check.'
DAVID BAMFORD
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Lucky escape: The result of a recent
accident at Quakers Hill. |
Glenwood
ambulance officer Graham Symes started the Traffic Offenders Program in
1992.
Enrollees do assignments based on the presentations, which are assessed
and delivered to the court before sentencing. "we make it clear
that attending the program does not guarantee dismissal of the charge or
reduction in sentence," Mr Bamford said.
But he believed the program had made people into better motorists.
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Mr Bamford said Blacktown RSL's sponsorship made the program possible but
that the State Government should now incorporate it into driver
training.
"We're
spending all this taxpayer's money at the end, when there's death and
when there's injury," he said.
"A small percentage of that cost could be brought forward and a
driver-education program put in place."
BLACKTOWN CITY SUN
29/03/05 |
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