2 — Northern Territory News, CARSguide, Saturday, May 15, 2010

PU

B:

NT

NE

WS

DA

TE

:1

5-M

AY

-20

10

PA

GE

:3

02

CO

LO

R:

CM

YK

Parents driving their children to bad habitsBy MARK HINCHLIFFE

PARENTS should be banned from

teaching their children to drive or

signing off on their learner log book until

they have completed a driver

competency test, according to a leading

road safety campaigner.

Russell White, who developed the

national Fatality Free Friday (FFF) initiat-

ive, urged parents to get involved with

their children’s driver education.

His call came as 182 student drivers

and the same number of instructors and

cars bunny-hopped their way to a world

record for simultaneous driving lessons

in 10 venues around the nation.

The world record driving test was

held to launch this year’s FFF on May

28.

‘‘What we wanted to do was launch

FFF as a campaign, not just a one-day

event,’’ he said. ‘‘We also wanted to

highlight the need to focus on training

as an important part of the road safety

solution.

‘‘It’s not high enough on the road

safety agenda.’’

The road safety author and former

boss of the Holden driver training

school at Norwell, south of Brisbane,

called for a higher standard of profess-

ional training and for parents to get

involved.

‘‘It’s important that they keep re-

freshed and go back and learn,’’ he

said.

‘‘I would like to see parents banned

from teaching a young driver until they

have completed a competency test,’’ he

said. ‘‘Driving instructors are saying that

half the good work they do with young

drivers is undone by parents.’’

The world’s largest driving lesson

was held at two venues in Brisbane and

Melbourne and one each in Townsville,

Darwin, Sydney, Adelaide and Can-

berra.

Drivers who wish to take part in

Fatality Free Friday can register at

www.fatalityfreefriday.com

MUM GETS KIDS' VOTE

NOT TYPICAL: Kathryn Britt with her three children Ruby, Ella and Sam

CHILDREN feel safer

in mum’s taxi than

when dad is at the wheel.

A British survey has

found that six out of 10

children aged five to 16 are

happier and more relaxed

when their mothers are

driving.

Australian road safety

campaigner Russell White

said parents should

remember they were a role

model to their children and

it was important for children

to feel safe in the car.

‘‘Kids exposed to poor

driving copy that

behaviour,’’ he said. ‘‘They

are a product of their

parents.

‘‘They watch everything

that is going on and those

seeds that are planted early

come to fruit in their teens.’’

The British Guild of

Experienced Motorists

survey found that children

believed their fathers drove

too fast, were more

aggressive and lost their

tempers too quickly.

Mums were less likely to

suffer from road rage, did

not dodge in and out of

traffic, were more

considerate to other

motorists and had nicer

cars.

However, the poll found

that children said their mum

was more likely to stall the

car, bump into a wall and

had difficulty parking.

White said there was no

doubt women drove

differently to men.

‘‘Women are more

neutral in their views of the

external environment while

men are more aggressive,’’

he said.

‘‘It’s one of the reasons

kids get car sick.’’

The survey found that

children didn’t like dads’

impatience while 83 per

cent said they often drove

at high speeds.

When dads were driving

too quickly, 39 per cent

knew not to comment, 22

per cent gripped the seat in

front of them nervously and

only 26 per cent asked dad

to slow down.

More than half of dads

were accused of regularly

shouting at other drivers

and 35 per cent of children

said they were nervous

when dads lost their

temper.

By contrast, 70 per cent

of children said mums

happily sang their hearts

out while driving, and 52

per cent said they talked

non-stop to keep the

families entertained.

However, before mums

and dads start to fight over

their driving abilities, one-

third of children said they

were embarrassed to be

driven around by either of

their parents.

Mother-of-three Kathryn

Britt said her family was not

typical of the survey results.

‘‘Yeah, we feel equally

unsafe with both parents,’’

joked 15-year-old son Sam.

However, three-year-old

daughter Ella said her mum

was typical of the survey as

she sang and talked more

while driving.

‘‘That’s what I don’t like,’’

said Ruby, 13.

Dadsdrivetoo fastTWO thirds of kids say

dad is more likely to

weave in and out of the

traffic, changing lanes at

speed to avoid getting

stuck in a jam.

DADS are more intent on

getting from A to B as

quickly as possible,

whereas mums take

things slower and spend

their time singing or

chatting to the kids rather

than getting annoyed with

other drivers.

55 PER CENT of dads are

said to have had more

accidents than mums

probably because 78 per

cent are more aggressive.

WHEN dad is shouting at

other drivers, 30 per cent

of children slump down in

their seat to hide, while 2

per cent cry.

A QUARTER of children

admit their dad’s driving

scares them.

SEVEN in 10 children say

mum is more likely to stall

the car when pulling away

from a junction or

performing a hill start and

64 per cent of kids say

mum is incapable of

reverse parking.

67 PER CENT say their

mums bump into walls,

road signs and lamp-

posts.

MUM is most likely to get

lost when driving.

DADS are more likely to

use their mobile phone

illegally.

Things kidslike aboutmum's drivingTALKS to keep the children entertained

SINGS at the wheel

DRIVES at a reasonable speed

IS considerate towards other motorists

HAS a nicer car

Things kids don'tlike aboutdad's drivingDRIVES too fast

SHOUTS at other drivers

DODGES in and out of the traffic

TOO aggressive

HAS more accidents

See mitsubishi-motors.com.au for further information. Offers at participating Mitsubishi Dealers only. While stocks last. Mitsubishi Motors Australia reserves the right to extend or modify these offers. Offers available on new vehicles ordered and delivered between 1 May and 31 May 2010. Business, Fleet sales by special arrangement. †10 year or 160,000km Powertrain Warranty (whichever comes first) (non transferable). *5 year or 130,000km New Vehicle Factory Warranty (whichever comes first). ^5 years or 130,000km Roadside Assist (whichever comes first). Service conditions apply. ‡4 year or 60,000km Capped Price Servicing (whichever comes first). Covers all items specified under the standard ‘Maintenance for Normal Operating Conditions’ schedule detailed in the Service and Warranty Booklet. Additional service/repair items (if required) are at additional cost. Excludes Government and Rental Fleet customers. See your Dealer for full details. 1. Recommended selling price. 2. Drive away price includes 12 months Registration, CTP Insurance, Stamp Duty and Dealer Delivery. LMVD348. TDM1108/NT/TN

LANCER ACTiV PAJERO ACTiV

OVER $5,000 EXTRA VALUE

OVER $2,000 EXTRA VALUE• BLUETOOTH® • 16” ALLOYS • REAR SPOILER • PRIVACY GLASS

• LEATHER STEERING WHEEL WITH AUDIO CONTROLS • AND LOTS MORE

ACTiV EXTRAS• TOUCH SCREEN SATELLITE NAVIGATION WITH VOICE COMMAND

• BLUETOOTH® • REVERSING CAMERA • ALLOY NUDGE BAR

• SIDE AND CURTAIN AIRBAGS • AND LOTS MORE

LIMITED EDITION

E

VIGATION WITH VVOICOICE CE COMMOMMAND

$21,9901

DRIVE AWAY2

CTiV

RA VALUE

LIMITTLIMLIMITTLIMEEDITIOD

1

Y2

MANUAL. PRICE EXCLUDES OPTIONAL METALLIC/PEARLESCENT PAINT $450 EXTRA. PRIVATE BUYERS ONLY.

ALICE SPRINGS Peter Kittle Mitsubishi 8952 5500DARWIN Darwin Mitsubishi 8946 4444KUNUNURRA Argyle Mitsubishi 9168 2236