Murph in Schools – advice for staying safe on the road
V8 Supercar Race Driver Greg Murphy wants you to stay safe on the road. Read on to learn about what’s really happening with young drivers. See Murph’s advice about what you can do to keep yourself, your passengers and other road users safe.
Murph in Schools Programme
Download a copy of MTAs 'Murph in Schools: Safer Young Drivers' information by clicking on the link below.
Getting your licence and being able to drive is a great feeling. But to keeping everyone on the road safe involves developing skills and building up experience. And remember what you do at any time, might change your life and the lives of those around you, forever.
Cars should be enjoyed and used with respect. None of us know it all. We’re learning all the time. Take driving seriously and don’t treat it like a game. Your ability to think quickly and react the right way to what’s going on around you can be the difference between life and death.
You owe it to yourself, your mates and your family to always drive carefully and stay safe on the road.
Remember. Road safety is a serious business. It affects everyone. Do your bit to make sure it doesn’t affect you OR your friends.
Stay safe!
Murph on YouTube
Otago Polytechnic put together a great video, showcasing their visit from Greg Murphy. Check it out!
What young drivers can do to stay safe on the road
Your vehicle must be safe
- Say yes to a WoF
- Say no to dodgy mods
- Tyres are everything, make sure they’re safe!
Respect other road users
- You are not the only one on the road
- It’s a journey, not a race
- And watch for surprises
Be aware of what’s ahead
- Get seated in the car properly
- Keep looking beyond the car in front
- Think about the big picture
Be aware of what’s around you
- Peripheral vision is the thing that will be the difference between you being in a crash or avoiding it
- Eyes always moving
Note the driving conditions
- Excessive speed mixed with inexperience will kill!
- Conditions change, drive to them. This means SLOW DOWN!
Let nothing distract you
- No cell phones or fiddling with audio gear when you are driving, it only takes a split second to end up dead, or to kill someone else.
- No alcohol or other stimulants – EVER!
Summary of some key stats
Young drivers and passengers have a higher risk of accidents and suffer more injuries more often. You can get over some injuries quickly, others will affect you the rest of your life.
When you are driving with a passenger your actions and the choices you make aren’t just about you, they can have life altering consequences for whoever is in the passenger’s seat too. In New Zealand, crashes all too often have a fatal impact on passengers, especially with younger drivers.
Alcohol/drugs and speed are the major contributing factors for young drivers involved in fatal crashes. Speed is two and a half times more likely to be involved than for a driver over 25.
Once you are on your own, but still inexperienced, the risk to you and your passengers goes up significantly. Practice and skill development will make all the difference.
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