Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Offenders Get Road Safety Message


Offenders Get Road Safety Message


Wellington Community Corrections partnered with emergency services, government agencies, organisations and Kapiti Coast District Council to deliver an innovative road safety programme to 70 community-based offenders at Southwards Car Museum on Tuesday 16 September.

The aim of the day was to educate offenders about laws, safe driving practices, effective restraints for them and their children, alcohol harm and responding to accidents.

The offenders, from Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti attended as part of their community-based sentence or order, under the Work and Living Skills programme.

Many of those who attended are serving or have served a sentence for driving offences.

Sue Abraham, Corrections’ District Manager, says “The programme aims to educate people about risk-taking and road safety. If they understand risk, they will appreciate the consequences their actions may have. It also aims to empower them to make the right decisions in the future.”

Offenders took part in the following activities:

• navigating an obstacle course while wearing Fatal Vision goggles that simulate being impaired by alcohol

• testing a driveway run over kit related to the dangers of children in driveways

• learning about stopping distances and vehicle modifications including brakes locking and skidding

• experiencing a seatbelt simulator stopping suddenly and proper restraints for children

• learning practical roadside maintenance

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

• seeing emergency services perform a rescue from a mock car crash

• meeting former professional footballer and motivational speaker Tawera Nikau.

Offenders were positive about the activities, with John* from Wellington, saying “the beer goggles were very effective. They teach you about driving while intoxicated and how alcohol impairs you”. Julie* from Kapiti said it was “good to learn about car seats and the braking stop times for driving at 100km/h”.

“Corrections is committed to reducing re-offending by 25% by 2017. By getting offenders to participate in programmes such as this, it’s encouraging them to weigh up risks and make sensible decisions that will help them to lead an offence-free life,” Ms Abraham said.

The day was organised by Corrections, Kapiti Coast District Council and Southwards Car Museum.

Corrections manages offenders to hold them to account to comply with their sentences and orders, reduce their likelihood of re-offending, minimise their risk to others, and help them become productive and contributing members of society.

*Not their real names

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.