V8 Supercar Driver Visits Taranaki and Wanganui to Spread the Safety Message

Kiwi motorsport star, Greg Murphy is heading back to school, to spread the road safety message, with the ‘MTA Murph in Schools’ programme, which again takes to the road in late June.

Murphy will be making his first stop in Taranaki to visit New Plymouth Boys High and Stratford High School, on Monday 28 June, and Hawera High School on Tuesday 29 June, and then travelling south making his last stop at Wanganui High School.

Hard on the heels of the government’s recent announcement to increase the safety of young drivers through education campaigns, raising the driving age and a zero blood alcohol limit for young drivers, Murphy will be visiting secondary schools around New Zealand, urging students to keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe.

Murphy will share the lessons he has learned in the high-speed world of competitive motor racing, along with the importance of road safety and the impact young drivers have on our roads, themselves and our communities.

In its third year of running, the road safety programme is organised by the Motor Trade Association (MTA) and is aimed at bringing the road safety message to schools in an attempt to curb unnecessary road accidents in the age group most at risk – young drivers.

Murphy says that while the government’s initiatives to increase young driver safety is a step in the right direction, there needs to be a bigger focus on education and training for young drivers.

“New Zealand has one of the worst track records in the world and it all stems from the beginning. It’s critical to instil good driving habits during these early stages of their driving experience,” he said.

“A third of all fatal crashes on New Zealand roads involve a driver between the age of 15 and 24 years old. Research also shows for every 100 alcohol or drug-impaired drivers killed in road crashes - 54 of their passengers and 27 sober road users die with them,”

The presentations run for around half an hour and are followed by a Q&A and usually involve selected senior students spending quality time with Murphy, in an effort to spread the message further amongst students. The presentations cover how young drivers can improve their own driving skills and stay safe on the road including; respect for other road users, being aware of what’s on the road, driving to the conditions and in-car distractions.

“I want to add my influence to the efforts being made to reduce death and injury, and also to promote the excitement of driving enjoyment without reckless danger. Not every young driver is doing the wrong thing, but those that do are creating a stereotype that affects all young drivers who love their cars.”