The Tony Quinn Foundation is providing a $750,000 three-year support package to partner and fund the driver education programme known as Street Smart.
Road crashes continue to be a grim reality for young drivers in New Zealand, claiming lives and causing injuries. Since 2020, 351 individuals under 25 years of age have died on New Zealand roads. One of the more recent victims was seventeen-year-old Kelan Stroud, who was killed in a three-vehicle crash in the Cromwell Gorge. Stroud had held his restricted license for just one month.
In the wake of this tragedy, the Stroud family reached out to Josie Spillane, Group CEO of Tony Quinn’s Motorsport Parks in New Zealand. They have launched a Give A Little Campaign to support young drivers through practical education and experience.
Already, over $20,000 has been raised from over 300 businesses to help fund the course.
Spillane, who is also a trustee of the Tony Quinn Foundation, expressed the gravity of Kelan’s passing: “Cromwell was deeply affected by this tragedy. We were humbled to be entrusted by Kelan’s family to honour his memory and provide a meaningful experience for local youth.”
However, the commitment to saving lives didn’t stop there. Quinn was adamant that it was time to move the needle on road deaths in New Zealand. He and Spillane became involved with Supercars CEO Shane Howard, and Street Smart Trustee Greg Murphy. Together they have forged a partnership that aims to make a life-saving difference in New Zealand.
Quinn said that young drivers are vulnerable on New Zealand roads. He continued “We must better equip our youth to handle any situation they encounter.
“That’s why we’re partnering with Street Smart, a programme designed to impart crucial learnings to New Zealand’s most inexperienced drivers. It will save lives.
“We’re privileged to share Kelan’s legacy with his family, which will be long-lasting in saving the lives of young Kiwis on New Zealand roads. His memory will also live on with his story incorporated into every Tony Quinn Foundation Street Smart delivery at Highlands.”
Since Street Smart’s launch in 2018, over 2000 young drivers have completed the practical, hands-on, cognitive-based driver programme. The not-for-profit organisation has been inperative during the Covid 19 period. However, new funding from the Tony Quinn Foundation will now see operations resume over school holiday periods. Driving instruction will resume July 16th and 17th at Highlands Motorsport Park, using the funds raised by Stroud’s Give A Little page.
Twenty-eight kids and their caregivers will have the chance to participate each day at a heavily subsidised price of $149.
Supercars has come on board with additional support, meaning the programme will involve drivers and teams throughout the year to elevate awareness.
Supercars CEO Shane Howard stated: “We are immensely honoured to partner with the Tony Quinn Foundation to continue to promote important driver education programmes and save lives.
“Our commitment to New Zealand goes beyond our annual event in Taupo, and we are proud to support initiatives of this nature. We view youth road safety as a top priority.”
Road safety advocate and Supercars legend Greg Murphy, a trustee of the Tony Quinn Foundation and Street Smart, recognises the support’s significance.
“We have very disturbing statistics with young drivers on our roads. These are our most vulnerable drivers, and the injury and death rates are unacceptable,” he said.
“Street Smart provides cognitive, hands-on learning in a controlled, safe environment. It will prepare them for what is actually out there. Many mistakes are simple, and these learnings will help them adapt to potential eventualities in the real world.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Tony for recognising this programme and the additional support young drivers need. He understands that this is a way he can invest in the future and change outcomes.”
