Rotorua police need more volunteer drivers to help young people

Rotorua police are desperate for more volunteer drivers to help young people upskill their driving and work towards holding a full licence.

The Blue Light Youth Driver Navigator Programme is a Bay of Plenty pilot which is helping young people to be safer on the road.

The scheme, supported by Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and other community organisations, has already seen students get behind the wheel.

Rotorua police Senior Constable Viv Sutton has a personal interest in the programme and has volunteered her own time as a navigator driver.

Her own young driver Celeste Wiperi is the first person in her family to hold a full driver's licence.

"We'll never struggle to find young people that need this help, but right now we need more people to become mentors.

"It's about these kids realising their licences are taonga."

She said the benefits also extended beyond just the driving skills the students learnt.

"It's an exciting opportunity for people to make a difference.

"For the kids it's giving them another responsible adult figure, someone they can have in their corner."

Celeste Wiperi is the first in her family to ever hold a full drivers license. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Some young people in Rotorua found it challenging to get their driver's licence because they couldn't afford it, there was no car in the family or they had nobody to teach them, Sutton said.

"There is a real link between lack of licensing and criminality in New Zealand.

"Having a licence can be a gateway for people into a career and other opportunities."

Rotorua co-ordinator Debbie Graham said the programme was about targeting the 35 per cent of the road toll that came from young drivers.

"It is a big hole for young people when they aren't able to drive.

"The knock on effect of this is something that will benefit the whole community."

The programme covers the cost of petrol, use of a car, drivers licence tests, professional lessons and an AA membership.

A driver navigator will need:
- A full NZ driver licence for at least two years and a history of safe driving.
- A keen interest in working with young people
- To commit to a minimum of two hours of driving practice a week
- Patience, understanding and a non-judgemental attitude
- To pass a police vetting process
- To attend an initial mentor training programme
- To become a driver navigator email blyden@bluelight.co.nz or visit www.bluelight.co.nz