Year 10 students at Orbost Secondary College continued their preparations to become competent, confident and safe drivers when they attain their driver licences with a trip to the Gippsland Motorplex in Bairnsdale last Friday.

As part of a program offered through Skidz Driving School with assistance from local authorities, around 40 local students have been receiving tutelage in the classroom discussing the ‘fatal five’ - speed, impairment, distraction, fatigue and seatbelts - plus learning first aid as well as hands-on experience in car maintenance.

The program is supported by Patties Foods, Orbost Civil and Civic, Dyers Transport and members of the Orbost community and provides a holistic approach where driver and passenger awareness ensures the students are the safest and the most confident on the road they can be.

On Friday it was time to get behind the wheel in a safe and controlled environment at the Motorplex. Skidz Driving School’s Corey Fenske said it was a good opportunity for the learner drivers to drive a vehicle under conditions that they may not normally encounter during driving lessons, such as driving and braking on a saturated surface.

This is the second year Orbost Secondary College has included driver education in its curriculum following the successful trial of the program last year.

PICTURED: Orbost Secondary College year 10 students visited the Gippsland Motorplex last week to experience getting behind the wheel in a variety of conditions.