Download: Ignition RCCV Entry Form and Disclaimer
CAMS Ignition Program – Paul Stewart
During the recent school holidays Brad, Amy and I attended the CAMS Ignition Junior Driver Training Day held by the MGCC of Geelong. Brad who is 13 was allowed to drive but Amy at 11 was only permitted to do the classroom activities. The concept is fantastic to help set the right attitude and mindset on drivers at a young age. It is very much an introductory course but given young Bradley has a desire to get involved in motorsport this was a great first step.
The day was also filmed for a recent episode of A Current Affair and the vision is available at www.cams.com.au
CAMS have been under a fair bit of pressure from the clubs to start putting time, effort and money back to grass roots motorsport. For too long the criticism has been that it’s all about V8 Supercars and Formula 1. There’s many things that CAMS has been accused of but I applaud their commitment to this course.
Since the ACA program I have been regularly stopped and asked “how to get other children involved”. As mentioned at the Annual General Meeting I am pursuing the opportunity for the RCCV to host a course. In effect we will be looking for about 15 kids (and parents) for a day long course run by Murcotts Advanced Driver Training, CAMS and of course the RCCV. It will be designed to cater for 12-18 year olds. They can be your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews etc. There will be more information regarding venues, dates etc but it is firmly on the agenda of the Committee to explore this opportunity.
I have reprinted the below directly from the CAMS website to give a better idea of what’s involved.
Why CAMS Ignition?
CAMS acknowledge the serious road safety issues confronting young drivers. CAMS knows that young people perceive that a licence to drive increases their freedom, independence and sensation seeking.
Unfortunately, youthful exuberance often manifests itself in vehicle use and combined with inexperience, a lack of knowledge and skills as well as peer pressure; it frequently ends in tragedy on the roads.
Road trauma involving young people often includes those who are not yet licensed or ready to drive as well as learners and newly licensed drivers. Poor decisions and a sense of invincibility lead to risk taking in vehicles both as passengers and drivers. The problem is magnified in rural communities because young road trauma victims are known personally by community members.
CAMS recognise the opportunity to contribute to community road safety especially targeting youth through its resources and extensive club networks throughout Australia.
Motoring events including motor sport activities provide an opportunity to focus young peoples’ interest in vehicles and driving through properly organised and sanctioned activities where the primary objectives are safety, safe decision making and driving excellence.
It is with this purpose and intention that CAMS has developed the CAMS IGNITION Program.
WHAT IS THE CAMS IGNITION PROGRAM?
The CAMS IGNITION program is a community development initiative supported by CAMS and its member clubs across Australia, working with their local communities, to achieve better road safety education outcomes for young people. The CAMS IGNITION program has the following characteristics:
- It targets pre-learner drivers, learner drivers and early P-Plate drivers – the most vulnerable group on Australian roads.
- It taps into the interest and enthusiasm that young people have in motor vehicles and driving.
- It recognises the reality that young people do take risks that risk taking behaviour is normal for many and that vehicles add to their risk taking environment.
- It rejects the practice of blaming and stereotyping young peoples’ attitudes and behaviour in favour of proactively working with them to help change their road safety outcomes.
- It engages the community, its leaders, parents, businesses, police and other agencies, in CAMS Car Club activities targeting young drivers.
- It recognises the importance of mentoring as a crucial process for developing positive self image, confident decision making and avoidance of risk taking.
- It recognises parents, community leaders and dedicated individuals as the source of this mentoring and promotes their active involvement in the program.
- It provides an opportunity for communities to work with CAMS and its 400 car clubs across Australia to redirect youth desire for fun in vehicles towards motoring activities including motor sport in a safe and controlled environment whilst promoting socially responsible driving and vehicle use on the road.
- CAMS Ignition Program is designed to enhance club related road safety activities through a balance of driver education theory and knowledge transfer, encouraging youth (and parents) to participate in discussion on such issues as:
• Youth driving statistics;
• Social behavior related to driving;
• Culture associated with driving;
In essence, the Program is designed to give young people aged 12 to 20 years old the chance to drive a vehicle, gain an introduction to motor sport and invaluable experience before obtaining their learner’s permit and then probationary drivers licence. This initiative will enable young people to develop skills and processes which they will later be able to transfer to their experiences on public roads.
One of the major bonuses of this program is that it provides an effective mechanism for clubs to build on their membership base, through increased exposure to young people and also their parents, family and friends. The program encourages family/parent involvement and is community driven, providing the club with the opportunity to perform a service to the community whilst aiding the prosperity of their club.
The program aims at instilling these values in young people, ensuring that they can relate them to the responsible behaviour of our top motor sporting personalities and allowing them to advance to higher levels of competition as they reach the appropriate age and level of experience.
Key outcomes of the program will be:
- Parental and family involvement in the road safety and driving development of their children and learner drivers through CAMS clubs.
- Mentoring: Promotes mentoring skills and modeling for Parents, CAMS Club leaders and community volunteers, through involvement in road safety and promotion of organised club activities for young drivers.
- Community Development: Community participation in road safety initiatives, schools Programs, joining youth with community, policing, car clubs development and promotion of responsible use and enjoyment of motor vehicles and associated activities/events.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Improved road safety outcomes for young drivers. EcoDriving, reducing carbon footprint on sensitive areas, compliance with laws, reduced road trauma It follows that those selected as coaches/mentors will need to be well informed about the issues associated with young road users, particularly the psychological aspects that underpin young road user decisions and risk taking behaviour.
This program will not have as a primary focus, the development of car control skills especially certain skills associated with motor racing such as handling an out of control vehicle, but rather the development of the mindset that delivers safe driving whether associated with motor sport or regular driving and vehicle use that avoids emergency situations.
