Local firm supports young driver programme

Rotorua Lakes Council Road Safety team members (from left) Jodie Lawson, Natasja Du Plessis and Reade Nikora with (far right) Autohaus Rotorua Dealer Principal Michael Meyer.

Autohaus Rotorua is giving back to the community by providing the Road Safety team at Rotorua Lakes Council with a car for two years.

The family firm celebrates 20 years in business in the city this year and has always supported its community.

Brothers Michael and Hermann Meyer and their respective wives Diana and Miriam chose their latest sponsorship recipients after their own children underwent driver skills training through Road Safety Rotorua's Driver Directions programme.

"Between us we've had three kids go through the programme and the other two will also do it when they're a bit older," Michael Meyer said.

"It's a fantastic programme that provides vital driving skills for new and learner drivers. They're not skills you learn through experience and our kids got a lot out of the Driver Directions programme."

For young drivers with a learner or restricted licence, Driver Directions supports young drivers and their parents to undertake supervised practise with a focus on developing good decision-making strategies and safe driving skills.

The programme is a joint partnership between Rotorua Lakes Council, Taupo District Council, Police and Rotary. It has been running in Rotorua since 2011 and in Taupo for 6 years. The course is held at Ricoh Taupo Motorsport Park and run several times a year with two in April this year, another running next week (7 and 8 July), which is fully subscribed for Rotorua, followed by two days in September and one day in December.

"We're very happy to be supporting this programme. And we will be doing our bit to help promote it to our networks and customers," Mr Meyer said.

"We think all young drivers should have the sorts of skills our children learned through Driver Directions."

Rotorua Lakes Council road safety co-ordinator Reade Nikora said the road safety team was very grateful for the support of Autohaus Rotorua.

"It's really great to have this sponsorship from Autohaus Rotorua and to have their input in promoting the Driver Directions programme. The car looks fantastic and will really help us to promote what we do."

More than 1000 young drivers have been through the programme since it started in Rotorua in 2011.

"It's very popular and teaching young drivers some really good skills," Reade says.

"They learn about all aspects of safe driving, including assessing the road environment, managing distractions, planning ahead and about resisting peer pressure. Parents have to come along so they're learning new skills as well and it's really important for young drivers to have their parents' support."

To find out more:
• Visit the Driver Directions Rotorua Facebook page
• Go to rotorualakescouncil.nz - type "driver directions" in the search field on the home page, then click on the item headed "Road Safety Education".