A LEAVERS Pit Stop will be set up on the Forrest Highway on Friday in an effort to promote road safety to young people, who are significantly over-represented in WA’s road fatality statistics.
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RAC senior media manager Liz Carey said 17 to 21-year-olds are highly likely to speed on the way to or from Leavers’ celebrations, according to the 2015 free2go Young Driver Survey.
“We know young people speed because 44 per cent of the survey respondents admitted to receiving a speeding fine since they got their licence,” Ms Carey said.
“On average in 2014, one person died on WA roads every two days and young drivers made up 22 per cent of them, despite only making up 12 percent of the population.
“Young people are over-confident on the roads and many of those heading away for leavers won’t have driven long distances or been on country roads before.”
The Leavers Pit Stop will be located at Forrest Highway Northbound rest stop at the corner of Old Bunbury Road in Waroona and RAC Patrols will be available to perform free car mechanical checks.
“Leavers will receive free cold drinks, food and RAC giveaways and there will be a Velcro jumping wall and fairy floss machine for entertainment,” Ms Carey said.
“The Pit Stop is a great opportunity to engage with these impressionable people and reinforce important road safety messages.”