A young person is working through their drivers training, carefully monitoring road hazards. The real-life consequences of how hard it is to stop a car in wet conditions verses dry is glaringly obvious.
But this driving isn’t happening on a conventional road. It’s happening inside a driving simulator parked safely at Te Puna Wai ō Tuhinapo, a Youth Justice residence in Christchurch.
Achieving through learning
Oranga Tamariki Residential Services Youth Justice Manager Aimee Hunter says having the driving simulator come into Te Puna Wai is hugely beneficial for the young people.
“It’s a weekly event and it’s something the young people really look forward to.
“The beauty with the simulator is you can record and track the young person’s progress.
“We follow the AA standard and get them ready for their learners, and we offer them the opportunity to be able to sit their restricted too if they get to that stage.”
The driving simulator was organised through a staff member who was aware of the company. They arrive in a converted ambulance with the driving software installed inside the vehicle.
“We know how challenging it is to get a driver’s license but when we think of some of our rangatahi in our care, it means so much more.”
Life changing experiences through driver’s licence training
Aimee Hunter says for some rangatahi, the driving simulator has changed their lives.
“One of our rangatahi their story was quite moving. They were able to achieve their learner’s driver’s license, and they talk about how proud they are, being the first in their family to have a legitimate driver’s license.”
Another rangatahi managed to gain their restricted license while at Te Puna Wai and it’s made a huge difference to their life now they are back in the community.
“Our rangatahi who got their restricted license, their whānau is incredibly grateful and has seen the change in that young person, who is now out in the community, independent, legitimately driving and can get themselves to and from their full-time job.”
Aimee Hunter says the simulator teaches an important part of driving, which is defensive driving. This learning is about how to cope with adverse weather, road rules, things you can’t teach in a classroom.
“Roughly in the last 12 months we’ve had 10 young people who have got a driver’s license and gone through the simulator and been supported by Kingslea School to sit their learner license test.
“As well as giving these young people a license it also gives them photo ID, which supports with employment and signing up to further learning in the community.”