Traffic Education Programs

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Traffic Offenders Program

There are many traffic offender programs and driving education programs that operate through out the Sydney metropolitan area and the greater west. The details of these traffic offender programs and driving education programs are listed at the bottom of this page.

This article focuses on the Traffic Offenders Education Program at South Sydney Police Citizens Youth Club at Redfern. Lionel Rattenbury and Michal Mantaj lecture participants of the course on the legal system.

The traffic offenders program is an option to magistrates where a person has not yet been sentenced for a traffic offence. It is also used by the Probation and Parole Service in the management of traffic offenders who are on existing probation or parole orders.

An increasing number of people are enrolling in the program on the advice of their lawyers before appearing in court to demonstrate to the magistrate that they are serious about improving their driving behavior. The driving education program is designed to increase peoples understanding of their social obligations, particularly where they relate to traffic laws. When sentencing a traffic offender, a magistrate may take into account any changes of attitude displayed since they attended the driving education program.

What the Guideline Judgment said about Traffic Offender Program

At paragraph 74 of the judgment the Court stated,

"There is evidence that suggests that attendance at such a program lessens the likelihood of reconviction for drink driving, Moffat, Weatherburn and Fitzgerald.  This may be not only because of the educative value in causing the offender to appreciate the consequences of such conduct but also because of the humiliation experienced by an offender in being required to attend such a program.

At paragraph 121 the Court stated,

Notwithstanding the undoubted beneficial affect upon a driver of participation in a driver education program, that fact can have little impact, in my view upon the appropriate sentence to be imposed for an offence of High Range PCA in the usual case, except in so far as the length of disqualification may be concerned or the amount of a fine.  The offence in general is so serious and the criminality involved in even a typical case so high that, in my view the participation of the offender in a program cannot be seen as an alternative to punishment for an offence of this nature.  In particular there is no warrant at all for the making of an order under Section 10 simply because the offender has participated in such a program or is to do so as part of the conditions of a bond.

Traffic Offenders Education Program at Redfern

South Sydney Police and Community Youth Club run a continuous 4/8 week Traffic Education Program throughout the year which is well regarded by its clients, the courts and solicitors.

Participants of the course are required to attend 8 lectures and complete assignments on the following topics:

Ambulance (Traffic Offenders / Driving Education Program)

Ambulance Service of NSW

• The roles of emergency services
• What causes accidents?
• Managing an accident scene
• Preventing further injury and sustaining life
• Social responsibility
• Drug and driving
• Avoiding becoming a statistic.

Legal System (Traffic Offenders / Driving Education Program)

Armstrong Legal

• Offences - serious and not so serious
• The court system
• Penalties and sentencing
• Drugs and the law
• Consequences of ignoring directions
• Your legal responsibilities
• Your legal rights.

Police (Traffic Offenders / Driving Education Program)

• Different types of drivers
• Difficulties for novice drivers
• Road safety awareness
• Need for defensive driving skills
• Property damage, injury and death
• Responsibility, courtesy and common sense
• Fines, cancellations and disqualifications
• When driving becomes a crime.

Brain and Spinal Cord Injury (Traffic Offenders / Driving Education Program)Brain Injury Association of NSW, Wayne Teagle

Chancing with death or serious injury

• Accidents that are preventable
• What is acquired brain injury?
• Physical and emotional effects of injury
• Changes in personality, thinking and learning
• Paralysis and life in a wheelchair
• Reducing the risk of accident.

Organ Donation and Vehicle Maintenance (Traffic Offenders / Driving Education Program)

• What is death?
• Who can donate and what organs can they donate?
• Myths and misconceptions about organ donation
• Keeping your motor vehicle safe
• Precautions needed during routine maintenance
• Speed and other driving hazards
• Safety features of modern vehicles.

Substance Abuse - Alcohol and Other Drugs (Traffic Offenders / Driving Education Program)

Salvation Army - William Booth House

• Why a drink or drug-affected driver is dangerous
• Blood alcohol concentration
• Effects of alcohol and other drugs on body and mind - short and long term
• Mixing drugs
• Drug classifications
• Social and economic cost of drug abuse
• Responsible use of alcohol and other drugs.

Defensive Driving (Traffic Offenders / Driving Education Program)

• What is a defensive driver?
• The main causes of traffic accidents
• Driving in adverse conditions
• Drugs, alcohol and fatal accidents
• Second-guessing others on the road
• Developing driving plans
• Defensive driving techniques.

Sentencing Options and Victims of Traffic Accidents

Probation and Parole Service VOCAL

• Sentencing options
• Bonds and conditions
• Consequences of re-offending
• Tragedy, grief and trauma
• Options and personal responsibility
• Emotional support for victims and families
• Raising community awareness.
  

Location and Transport

The program is held at South Sydney PCYC, located on the corner of Elizabeth and Phillips Streets, Redfern - opposite Redfern Oval. The PCYC is about 10 minutes walk from Redfern Station.

Bus route 343 runs a regular service from Central Station to Kingsford with a stop outside the club in Elizabeth Street. 

Times

The Traffic Education Program is held on Tuesday and Thursday nights on a continuous cycle - clients choose either the Tuesday or the Thursday program. The programs are identical, apart from being four weeks separated by topic. Therefore, if a session is missed, it becomes available again in eight weeks on the same night.

Both Tuesday and Thursday night courses run from 7pm to 9pm, usually with a short break in the middle. Participants should arrive at least 30 minutes early on their first night to register.

Cost

The cost of the course is $100 for the full Traffic Education Program. This includes a PCYC membership, all legal correspondence and a certificate of attendance on completion of the course.

The Traffic Education Program operates year-round except for two weeks in the Christmas\New Year break. Clients receive a schedule of the sessions when they register.

To enrol, please phone (02) 9319 4240.

Other Traffic Offender / Traffic Education Programs:

	(02) 9261 4555
	Book an appointment