School kids sent to court for culpable driving experience

03 May 2010

MEDIA RELEASE: 3 May 2010

Victorian secondary school children can now take part in an interactive learning experience by re-enacting a culpable driving case at the Old Melbourne Gaol.

The TAC provided the National Trust with a $20,000 community road safety grant to enhance its courtroom drama I've killed my best mate. It enriches the core road safety education program for secondary schools, ‘Traffic Safety Essentials'.

"We urge all secondary schools to implement a comprehensive road safety program based around ‘Traffic Safety Essentials' and to take part in this unique learning experience offered by the National Trust, "said TAC Senior Manager of Marketing and Road Safety John Thompson.

"It provides a powerful insider account of a road tragedy and explores the disastrous consequences of dangerous driving."

The I've killed my best mate courtroom drama provides a memorable educational experience through its clever script, authentic courtroom setting and legal costumes, together with audience participation. It also includes a multimedia component of photographs, voice-overs, video footage and statistics projected onto the walls of the court.

The goal of the courtroom drama is to create greater awareness amongst year 10 to year 12 students about the importance of new drivers avoiding risk taking behaviour. It explores a range of risk factors including youthful high spirits, driver distraction, speed, hooning and peer pressure and enhances the core road safety education resource for secondary schools, ‘Traffic Safety Essentials'.

"The National Trust is proud to offer this interactive experience that is based on a real-life case," said National Trust CEO, Martin Purslow.

"It gives a brutally honest account of the legal proceedings that follow a horrific car crash. It also explores the lifelong despair of losing young people and puts the final legal decision regarding the driver's future into the hands of the participants."

"We believe that the courtroom drama is a creative and unique addition to the resources used by the TAC and their road safety partners in addressing the safety risks associated with anti-social behaviour on Victorian roads."

Young drivers continue to be over-represented in Victoria's road toll. Drivers aged from 18 to 25 represent around 24% of serious injuries and deaths on our roads, despite representing only 14% of the driver population.

For more information contact:
TAC Media and Communications Adviser Amanda Bavin on 0439 567 249
National Trust Media and Communications Manager Paola Ghirelli on 0416 009 271