New young drivers in Narrogin will receive a free St John WA first aid kit for their car thanks to an initiative by the town’s Rotary Club and the shire council.

The targets for the kit are those aged between 17 and 25, the drivers with the least experience, who have passed their practical test in Narrogin.

About 50 people attended a community event to launch the initiative at the Sydney Hall Way bike education track in May.

Shire deputy president Graham Broad urged all young people behind the wheel to keep their kit handy and encouraged them to take the next step and attend a first aid course.

“For many years, the Narrogin Rotary Club has supported road safety education through the bike education track, where young children learn safety and basic road awareness in a safe, simulated road environment,” he said.

“It is great to see Rotary extending this work to support young drivers and promote responsible driving.

“I would urge all recipients to keep their kit handy and equip themselves with the skills and the confidence that St John first aid training can provide.”

He said about 250 drivers pass through the Narrogin Licensing Centre each year and the aim was for each new driver to receive a kit and the road safety message thst went with it.

Narrogin Rotary Club president Allan Hall said the program could get much bigger in the future.

“This initiative has the potential to become a structured road safety program in partnership with licensing centres and other rotary clubs across WA,” he said.

“It would be great if this initiative would find a wider interest, replacing floor mats or other industry-supplied accessories with a first aid kit.”