Media Release No. 30
12 August 2016
Important road safety message for young drivers
Sixteen-year-old Alex Peroni may drive single seater racecars in Europe at speeds reaching
250 km/h, but he has recently discovered that he still has a lot to learn when it comes to
driving on Tasmanian roads.
The current leader of the 2016 Formula Renault series that is raced on circuits throughout
France, Spain, Italy and Portugal, features in a new RACT driver training resource targeting
young drivers.
The vision compares the skills Alex needs on the racetrack with those he needs on the road.
Alex, who passed his L2 test with the RACT this week, is the first to admit that he still has a
lot to learn.
RACT Motoring Services Manager, Peter Gillon, said the skills that Alex applied on the
racetracks of Europe did not necessarily translate into safe driving on Tasmanian roads.
“Young drivers, in fact all drivers, need to understand that it is important you are regularly
assessing and reassessing your driving abilities,” he said.
“It is an important message given real context when you consider Alex’s skills on the
racetrack do not easily translate into driving a standard motor vehicle.”
A recent Benchmarking the Performance of the National Road Safety Strategy reveals there
were 1,269 fatalities on Australian roads in the 12 months to June 2016, an increase from
1,170 a year earlier.
In Tasmania, 41 people were killed on the state’s roads in 2015/16 compared to 33 fatalities
in 2014/15, an increase of about 24 per cent.
Mr Gillon said the state was clearly heading in the wrong direction when it came to road
fatality numbers.
“All governments across Australia need strict policies and programs in place that deliver a
safer transport network, safer drivers and safer vehicles,” he said.
“This is particularly true for young drivers who might have an inflated expectation of their
skills and capabilities. To put it bluntly to those who have this perception: you are probably
not as good as you think you are.”
“We are hopeful this resource will achieve a positive outcome among young motorists in
Tasmania and encourage them not to underestimate the challenges that come with
inexperience.”
The resource will be rolled out gradually over the coming months through RACT’s social
media channels.
Alex returns to Italy on Saturday to complete the Formula Renault season and is looking
forward to cementing his reputation as one of the brightest young prospects in Europe.
Released by:
Nicolas Turner Tel: 6210 5206 or 0418 538 865