About Leighton Contractors Youth Drive Safe Initiative
Leighton Contractors in Queensland is supporting the creation of safer drivers through the Leighton Contractors Youth Drive Safe Initiative.
Now in its fourth year, the initiative provides 630 Queensland secondary state school students with drive safe packages comprising 5 hours of free, professional learner driver tuition with selected RACQ Approved Driving Schools*. The five hours of professional driver training equals 15 hours in the 100 hour Learner Logbook.
The initiative is aimed at equipping young learner drivers with essential knowledge, practical skills and on-road experience before gaining their provisional licence, helping to create safer drivers, safer roads and safer communities.
Youth Drive Safe driving lessons will teach young drivers:
- responsible attitudes to driving and vehicle use
- fundamental vehicle control skills
- safe driving techniques
- eco-driving knowledge and skills (i.e. driving in an environmentally responsible manner)
- vehicle experience in a mix of real-life traffic conditions.
Youth Drive Safe driving lessons follow a structured lesson plan we developed in consultation with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, CARRS-Q and accredited driving instructors.
The Youth Drive Safe 5 Lesson Plan is informed by best practice principles for road safety education, is aligned with the national keys2drive learning approach and is adaptable for students at all levels of skill, experience and knowledge.
All costs associated with the driver training are covered by Leighton Contractors Northern Region, including instructor fees and the supply of five, high safety rated driver training vehicles.
* where available
The creation of the Leighton Contractors Youth Drive Safe Initiative
As one of Australia’s leading construction and building companies, our key role in designing and constructing Queensland’s roads has made us conscious of the need for safer roads and safer driving.
Addressing road safety issues resonates throughout our business on many levels. Whether developing practices to keep our people safe when working or travelling on Queensland's road network or supporting community road safety initiatives.
With motor vehicle crashes consistently being the leading case of death among young Queenslanders, and the current road fatality rate for 17 to 20 year olds standing at two times the fatality rate for the entire Queensland population, the road toll for young drivers is at a critical level.
By focusing on young drivers, who are most at risk on our roads, we can help address the ongoing tragedy of high road trauma rates among young people.
Consistent with our values of ‘Safety and Health Above All Else’ and ‘Respect for the Community and the Environment’, we launched the Leighton Contractors Youth Drive Safe Initiative in 2008 following 18 months of research and consultation with road industry bodies and government.
The Queensland Government’s recent changes to Queensland’s graduated licensing system demand that young learner drivers acquire 100 hours of supervised on-road experience - ideally including a period of professional driving tuition.
We believe supporting learner drivers in receiving professional tuition and supervised on-road driving experience plays a fundamental role in equipping young drivers to become safe drivers.
In the past three years over 1,600 young Queenslanders have participated in the Leighton Contractors Youth Drive Safe Initiative.
