A NARRE Warren man has been inspired to campaign for compulsory driver education programs in schools after the death of a friend this year at a notorious Lynbrook intersection.

Zachary de Silva lost friend Riyani Lowen in the first of two fatal collisions at the corner of Ormond and Hallam roads this year.

Mr de Silva, 21, said he believed students would welcome compulsory driver education.

“We can’t save the world, but we’ve just got to do a little bit. If that was me, she’d do the same,” he said.

After he looked into the possibility of driver education in schools, Mr de Silva found programs were offered in schools in Virginia, USA from at least 2001.

“I never had a day of driver education in my school. It was not talked about. We’re pretty far behind.”

Mr de Silva said such programs should be a responsibility of the government to implement and make compulsory in schools.

The education could take a variety of forms that highlighted the consequences of mixing drugs and alcohol with driving, and also a practical aspect similar to advanced or defensive driving courses already offered, Mr de Silva said.

“It’s better than doing nothing.”

Lessons learned at schools could be etched in the back of young drivers’ minds before they went for their licence, he said.

“Young people are not that irresponsible. You’ve got to give them some credit.”

Mr de Silva said he could not accuse those involved in this year’s two crashes of bad driving, but thought driver education at school could have made a difference.

“You never know. If this sort of thing was in the back of your mind you’d just be a little bit more careful.”

Mr de Silva has been involved in discussions with other members of the Hampton Park community after a $20,000 Transport Accident Commission (TAC) grant was awarded for the town to develop its own road safety strategy.

Residents have reignited their calls for the duplication of Hallam Road and the upgrade of the intersection since the accidents occurred.

VicRoads has installed interim traffic lights at the intersection and reduced the speed limit along Hallam Road.

Mr de Silva said piloting a central driving school for Casey where schools could visit to participate in the safety education was a possibility he would like to see considered. “Pilot something like that and get more funding if it was successful,” he said.

“$20,000 is better than none.

“Young people dying is very sad. You can’t just do nothing at all. You have to put faith in training and education.”