The proverb 'Train up a child in the way he should grow and when he is old he will not depart from it' speaks directly to one possible solution that can curb the horrendous driving habits of some of our drivers.

We should seek to inculcate the proper use of the road theoretically and practically to our students through the school curriculum that by the time they become eligible to drive, they would have developed the significant appreciation, expertise and maturity needed to manoeuvre a motor vehicle.

Polishing process

I recommend that this 'Early Roadsters' programme be introduced to students at age 14 under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport, National Road Safety Council and the Police Traffic Department, so that at the very least a two-year driver polishing process can be conducted, especially in light of the unfortunate road accident involving a 15-year-old youngster at the wheel and his friends. Maybe no one could have prevented that joyride but could we have made the joyriders more masterful at the controls.

In the United States, they teach their youth at age 16 or thereabouts, but with the increasing younger generation of future drivers destined to take our place on the roads and highways, can we afford to wait?

Mature drivers were naive students, so naive students can be made into mature drivers.

I am, etc.,

RICARDO WILKS

Youth Advocate

ricardowilks@hotmail.com