ADTA Safer Driver Course
Have you considered a Safer Drivers Course?
The Safer Drivers Course is an initiative of Transport for NSW. The ADTA is actively lobbying other states to adopt this program developed by the Centre for Road Safety.
It is an Interactive and engaging course designed to prepare learner drivers to become safer drivers as they progress to a Provisional Licence. Everyday common challenges that young drivers will face How to avoid becoming a “crash statistic” How to develop strategies to identify, assess and address risks An interactive, fun and engaging learning approach 20 hours in your logbook Refreshments throughout the duration of the course
20 Logbook Hours for only $140
- Module 1: 3 hours Group Discussion
- Module 2: 2 hours Practical
Course requirements, you must have completed 50 practical hours driving before attending the Safer Drivers course and you must be under the age of 25.
For those with a current Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card, and are under 25, you are able to take the course for free. You'll need to download and fill out the form on our web site adtasdc.com.au.
About the course
The Safer Drivers Course (SDC) is a combined theoretical and practical program for under 25 year old learner drivers who have completed 50 logged driving hours as required under the Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS).
The Course is for delivery to New South Wales (NSW) learner licence holders under 25 years of age only.
The Course is based on adolescent cognitive development principles and best practice in young driver education. It aims to build awareness of driving risks, safe driving behaviours and low risk driving strategies in preparation for the transition to driving solo as a provisional licence holder.
The Course is designed to improve the safety of learner drivers as they progress to a provisional licence and drive unsupervised. Learner drivers who complete the SDC will receive a 20 hour credit in their logged driving hours which reduces the required number of supervised driving hours from 120 to 100 hours.
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Background to the Curriculum
With statistics showing that young drivers, aged 17-25 years, are more likely to be involved in crashes resulting in death or injury than other drivers, the NSW licensing system is reviewed regularly to improve young driver safety.
The NSW Government developed a course for learner drivers that aims to improve the safety of young novice drivers. Learner drivers who complete the Safer Drivers Course will have a reduction in the required number of logged driving hours from 120 to 100 hours.
The key aims, objectives and outcomes of the Safer Drivers Course are as follows:
Course Aim
The Safer Drivers Course is designed to contribute to improved road safety outcomes for young learner drivers.
Course Objectives
Given the elevated crash risk of inexperienced young drivers, the focus of the Safer Driver Course is to prepare learner drivers for when they first drive solo as a provisional licence holder.
The course objectives are set to assist young learners to:
- improve their capabilities to drive safely by reducing and managing their road safety risks
- acquire additional safe driving skills, knowledge and insights into their driving vulnerabilities to complement their on-road driving experience within the context of the log book driving requirement. (Driving vulnerabilities include issues relating to choice, attitudes, risk taking and decision making.)
More specifically, the course is designed to:
- assist learner drivers understand the heightened risk once they cease to be a supervised learner driver and drive independently and, they can reduce this risk by adopting specific positive strategies
- acquaint learner drivers with the typical crash scenarios that young solo drivers experience and to make links with common young driver behaviour
- provide learner drivers with specific “safe” driving strategies which can complement their on-road driving experience undertaken through supervised driving
- highlight to learner drivers that their safety and vulnerability as independent drivers is in their hands and will depend on: the choices and decisions they make, their attitudes and risk taking actions
- assist learner drivers to become more resilient to pressures which heighten their risk of negative road safety outcomes (such as peer and social influences, distraction, driving at dangerous times, pressure from passengers)
- encourage learner drivers to practise the safe driving strategies recommended in the Course and to ensure the consistency of messages between the course and supervising drivers.
Course Outcomes
At the end of the course, the young learner drivers are expected to have improved capabilities in the areas of driving decision making, identifying risks, hazard perception and having a more realistic view of one’s own ability to drive safely (ie low risk and without crashes).
Specifically,
- Learner drivers come to an understanding of their vulnerabilities and a more realistic assessment of their ability to drive safely (i.e. low risk and without crashes)
- Learner drivers value, adopt and practise safe driving strategies as learner drivers and eventually as solo drivers.
Principles Underpinning the Safer Drivers Course Curriculum Framework
The following principles that underpin the Safer Drivers Course have been determined by the Board of Road Safety Experts:
- Course to target learners with a minimum of 50 hours supervised driving experience
- Course will enhance on-road supervised driving experience and improve road safety for young drivers first driving solo (initial stages of P1 period)
- Content, framework and delivery model aligns with best practice in young driver education E.g. peer-to-peer learning, including small group discussion, experiential learning, focus on specific behavioural goals, age and culturally appropriate approach, include self-reflection, address motivations associated with risky driving
- Identify and reinforce key road safety messages
- Consider coaching and driver self-assessment approaches.
In addition, the following principles have been considered in the development of the course curriculum framework:
- The Course should encourage young drivers practicing and reinforcing the safe driving strategies learnt from the Course in their remaining logged driving hours
- The Course should focus on behaviour change towards safer driving practices and attitudes.