Media Releases

Australian motor sport legend Peter Brock today (Wed 23 Feb 05) launched a training program for young drivers in farming communities.

Incitec Pivot Managing Director and CEO Greg Witcombe and Peter Brock.

About 1,500 young men and women aged between 18 and 25 will take part in one-day training courses at more than 70 regional centres in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

Peter Brock officially launched the program - sponsored by fertiliser company Incitec Pivot Limited - in Melbourne.

The Incitec Pivot Drive for Life driver training program will be conducted on Incitec Pivot's behalf over six months by accredited trainers from Murcotts Driving Excellence Pty Ltd.

The course will deliver theoretical and practical training designed to improve driving behaviour, paying special attention to driving on rural roads.

Greg Witcombe, Managing Director of Incitec Pivot, said the company was proud to initiate the Drive for Life program for the benefit of young people and their families in rural areas.

"There are many horrific accidents in rural areas and often young drivers are involved," he said. "We hope Drive for Life will contribute to making many young people in our farming communities safer drivers."

Mr Witcombe said that the program fitted well with Incitec Pivot's commitment to health and safety.

"We place the highest priority on the safety of our staff, customers and the communities we operate in," he said.

Incitec Pivot's sales staff and its agents and dealers will coordinate the program at a local level.

Peter Brock, a household name in Australian motor sport and ambassador for driver safety, congratulated Incitec Pivot on having the vision to invest in training for young drivers in the country.

"Clearly the company has a strong safety culture and it is pleasing to see that this extends to rural families," he said.

Brock and representatives of Murcotts Driving Excellence were invited participants at the Road Safety Forum for P-plate drivers convened by the Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson, in Canberra in December.

Geoff Thomas, director of research and development for Murcotts, said the Drive for Life program would help to address the over-confidence of many newly licensed drivers, a factor that contributes to crashes.

CONTACTS:
Neville Heydon, Corporate Affairs Manager, Incitec Pivot, Tel 0408 123 160
Jenny Gilbert, Jenny Gilbert Communications, Tel 0417 898 788