RRT gives the green light with support to the Blue Light Driver Training

A specialised program helping disadvantaged young people get their licence has received a donation worth $12,000 from local charity the Rapid Relief Team (RRT).

The Blue Light Youth Driver Navigator course is designed to help young people who don’t have the available assistance, such as lack of a vehicle or not having someone to teach them, get behind the wheel.

RRT has thrown its support behind the program, gifting a vehicle and ongoing payments to help with costs, for the next three and a half years.

Brent from RRT praised the work Blue Light is doing and said it not only ensured young people can get their licence but made the roads a safer place for everyone.

“Without available support at home, getting a licence becomes an extremely challenging hurdle for young people. A lack of a licence is a handbrake on so many opportunities, including education, training and employment,” Brent said.

“Blue Light not only teach these young people how to drive a car, but they support them through the entire licence process – including paperwork, tests and financial help with all of the associated costs.”

“They also provide defensive driving lessons, which leads to safer driving habits, reduces road offences and of course reduces road trauma.”

Blue Light is committed to ensuring safer young drivers on New Zealand roads and relies on the time and support of volunteers.

Rod Bell from Blue Light said the new vehicle provided by RRT will allow more students time on the road, practising their driving skills.

“We are so grateful to RRT for providing this kind of support, because it means we can help more kids get their licence and as a result open the door to so many more opportunities for them,” Rod said.

“An extra vehicle allows us to increase our capacity. We’re planning the car will be used in at least three test drives a day, five days a week. That’s going to have a massive impact on the number of young people we can get practising their skills.”

“Of course, available vehicles and enough volunteers are the main barriers to our growth, so we always gratefully accept offers of assistance in both of these spaces,” Rod added.

Since the launch of the program in 2018, over 3,000 students have enrolled to Blue Light’s program.

If you, or anyone you know, is interested in becoming a Blue Light Youth Driver Navigator Program volunteer you can email [email protected] or phone 0800 BLUE LIGHT.