A young driver who was involved in a serious crash on a rural road is encouraging others to experience practical driver training after saying it changed the way she approaches every journey.
Gabby was travelling to school at 100km/h when another vehicle pulled out in front of her, causing a collision that rolled her vehicle into a fence. While she escaped without physical injury, the crash left a lasting impact on her willingness to drive.
"I was driving to school on a country road when another driver didn't see me and pulled out in front of me. I was travelling at 100km/h when my vehicle was hit and rolled into a fence.
"Afterwards, I didn't want to drive again because I felt like every car was going to crash into me."
Gabby later attended a Street Smart young driver training day, a practical, hands-on programme, run at venues around the country, that gives drivers the opportunity to experience emergency braking, hazard awareness and vehicle control in a safe, controlled environment alongside experienced coaches.
Initially, she admits she wasn't enthusiastic about attending.
"I thought it was going to be all theory and quite boring, so I wasn't very keen to go."
By the end of the day, however, her outlook had changed.
"The ABS braking exercise was what I took the most from. I really enjoyed learning how to use it properly and understanding what the vehicle can do in an emergency situation."
Since completing the programme, Gabby says she approaches driving differently.
"I am much more aware of my surroundings now. I pay more attention to potential hazards and I know how to use ABS braking effectively if I ever need it."
Street Smart Programme Director Hayden Dickason says Gabby's experience reflects what many participants describe after completing the programme.
"Young drivers spend a lot of time learning the rules of the road, but there are some situations that simply can't be experienced safely on public roads. Street Smart gives them the opportunity to understand how a vehicle behaves under emergency braking, how distractions affect reaction times, and how quickly hazards can develop, all in a controlled environment."
The impact is often noticed well beyond the training day.
Gabby's mother says she initially thought her daughter viewed the programme as a consequence of the crash rather than an opportunity to learn.
"At the beginning, Gabby wasn't particularly keen to attend... she viewed the course as a punishment for the accident and a waste of her time. As the day progressed, her attitude completely changed. She mentioned several times how good the course was and how much she enjoyed it."
She says the lessons have continued to shape Gabby's driving.
"Since attending Street Smart, Gabby has become much more careful and aware of her surroundings. She pays greater attention to potential hazards and is far more conscious of distractions, both inside and outside the vehicle. Overall, she approaches driving with much more caution and maturity."
Similar experiences have been shared by participants across New Zealand.
Emma, who recently attended a training day in Christchurch says the programme changed the way she scans the road and thinks about vehicle control, particularly on rural roads where looking further ahead is critical.
"The experience is 100x better than I could have imagined, not only was it highly educational, but for me the backgrounds of the coaches made it so much more of an enjoyable, interesting and fun day. The lessons that you learn completely outweigh the cost, this experience is very likely to change the outcome of someone's driving experience or even their life. Just give it a go!"
For Cromwell attendee Meisha, those lessons were put to the test only weeks after attending when another driver failed to give way at an intersection.
"I slammed on my brakes and felt my car judder, but thanks to testing it out at Street Smart, I knew my car would be okay."
She believes the practical experience prepared her for a situation many new drivers hope they never encounter.
"It is far better to test out your vehicle's safety precautions in a controlled space, rather than in a real emergency. If it comes down to it, brake, and brake hard. You are more important than your car. Your vehicle is replaceable. You aren't."
Greg Murphy, Street Smart Trust Chair and Ambassador, shared his enthusiasm for the programme: “I’m incredibly passionate about saving lives through improving driver awareness, and I’m incredibly proud to have been involved in Street Smart since its inception. This programme has been designed by experts for Kiwi teens, and it’s making a difference in helping young people become more aware and responsible behind the wheel.”
Street Smart is a one-day practical driver training programme delivered around New Zealand, helping young drivers and their guardians experience real-world driving situations in a safe environment before encountering them on public roads.
For upcoming training days or more information, visit www.streetsmart.org.nz
