By KATH GANNAWAY
AS A mother of three teenage boys Lisa Kerr has not so much signed up as buckled up for a six-year stint in the passenger seat next to an L-plater.
She’s doesn’t expect any medals, (perhaps a few hugs), but she wouldn’t mind a bit of back up from other drivers.
A bit of peer group support surely isn’t too much to ask!
The Healesville mum pleaded for better behaviour towards learner drivers on Yarra Valley roads in a letter to the Mail.
“Where is people’s patience and understanding in regards to teaching young people good examples of safe driving? she asked after a number of unpleasant and unsafe experiences on the roads.
“We need to slow down and think for a moment that we all had to learn, or teach a learner to drive,” she wrote.
Lisa’s oldest child, Ryan, is 19 and has his Ps.
Adam is just starting his 120 hours on Ls and Dylan at 15 is looking on with interest… learning by exposure as he studies the road rules book.
The boys acknowledge that it’s not the easiest thing in the world to teach someone else to drive… rain, hail or shine.
They appreciate the time and effort their mum is putting in to ensure that when they hit the road as representatives of the demographic most at risk of injury or death, they will be not only technically proficient drivers, but safe, responsible and courteous road-users.
And, that’s the part that really gets up Lisa’s nose… too many people are setting a bad example.
She and Ryan were overtaken by two cars as they drove out of Warburton along the river when he was learning.
“It is a 60 zone; he was doing 60! Sorry if sitting on the speed limit seems to hold some people up!” she wrote making the point that it’s hard to explain why another licensed driver is tail-gating and using intimidating behaviour.
“How do you explain… they must be in a hurry, so it’s OK to do that?” she said, shaking her head.
Adam had just got his learners permit and was doing laps, parking and pretend turns at the Don Road Sporting Complex, as many learners do, when he was abused for not being daring enough as he turned out on to Don Road.
Lisa said the driver came up behind them and started honking her horn and making gestures questioning why Adam wasn’t pulling out.
“She couldn’t see the car, sitting, hopefully, on 80kms coming down the road, but I can tell you now not a lot sit on 80 along there,” Lisa said.
“So while I’m trying to teach my learner driver hopefully good habits that then pass on into the P-plate years we have the complete rudeness and ignorance of the public making our young drivers feel that they too must drive in a rush all time.”
Driver behaviour – their own and others’, is very much on the agenda at the Kerr house including topics such as peer group pressure, drink driving, speeding… but as Ryan said, other drivers have a role to play.
He said one of the advantages he has had is learning with several people – his mum, dad, grandad and a driving instructor.
It helps avoid picking up bad habits that can be passed down from experienced drivers.
“Having a driving instructor really helped,” he said.
“But it’s not just about bad habits you might pick up, I really think one of the biggest influences on driving is driving with other people and seeing how they drive on the road… how they do it,” he said.
Lisa just wants a fair go for teachers and learners.
“Please people, grow up and start having respect towards people trying to learn,” she wrote.
“You all had to learn and you are not invincible on our roads.
“Please, just think next time you’re around a learner driver if you will set a good example?”
