Media statement | 22 May 2007

Refugee programme wins community road safety award

A programme which helps refugees learn New Zealand’s road rules and gain driver’s licences has won top prize in the community category of this year’s Road Safety Innovation and Achievement Awards.

The Refugee Road Safety Action Project gives United Nations refugees settling in New Zealand the opportunity to gain important safe driving knowledge while working towards a New Zealand driver’s licence, leading to better prospects of work and integration in the community.

Each year around 1,000 refugees settle in New Zealand, lacking basic knowledge of New Zealand road rules and our transport environment. The orientation programme at the national refugee resettlement centre didn’t include road safety, so the Refugee Road Safety Action Project was initiated by Refugees As Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ).

With the help of Land Transport New Zealand and Waitakere City Council, a three stage programme was developed by Dr Arif Saeid, Community Services Manager of RASNZ. Nearly 500 refugees complete the course every year, and nearly 300 then go on to undertake driver licensing training. The pass rate for those sitting the learner’s licence test is 93 percent and resettlement social workers ensure training is completed in the community for full driver licensing.

As a result of this initiative:

• Refugee families settling in New Zealand are safer road users and pedestrians
• Many refugees leave the national refugee resettlement centre with a family member who has a learner’s licence and the support to get a full licence
• Resettlement has been improved and positive new lives begun by reducing social isolation, improving mobility, enhancing self esteem and helping former refugees find employment
• The New Zealand public is safer because a key risk area has been identified and addressed

Road Safety Innovation and Achievement Awards judge Michael Gross said a key success factor in the programme is the fact that refugees who have already settled in New Zealand are used to train the newly arrived refugees.

“They have a far better understanding of what new refugees have been through and what they need to know. By communicating to people in ways that are relevant to them, the road safety message gets through.

“This award is all about examples of people taking the initiative and having the energy to tackle road safety in their area. All the entrants in this category are to be commended for taking action to support and protect their communities,” says Mr Gross.

For more information
Andy Knackstedt
Media Manager
Land Transport New Zealand
Ph: 04 931 8829 or 0212 763 222

Background information on the awards

The Road Safety Innovation and Achievement Awards programme is funded by the Road Safety Trust and administered by Land Transport New Zealand. The awards organising committee includes representatives from the New Zealand Automobile Association, the AA Driver Education Foundation, New Zealand Police, ACC and Land Transport New Zealand.

The aim of the awards is to recognise excellence and encourage innovation in road safety.

There are six categories, plus the Premier award:

• Road Safety Education Award
• Road Safety Community Award
• Road Safety in Organisations Award
• Road Safety Vehicle-based Award
• Road Safety Road Engineering Award
• Road Safety General Award

All entries in the were evaluated by a three member expert judging panel comprised of Michael Gross, Dr Carolyn Cogan, Director of the Safe Communities Foundation of New Zealand, and Suzanne Sinclair, chair of the Road Safety Trust.