Hoon cars will save lives

Cars seized from hoon drivers and destined to be crushed will instead be given to the emergency services in Victoria. SES and CFA members will use the cars for 'jaws of life" training to prepare them for cutting victims out of crashed vehicles.

Police Minister Kim Wells will launch the new scheme today. He told the Herald Sun some forfeitedcars would be donated to the CFA and SES to enhance training of members in the use of specialist equipment used in road rescue.

'For the first time, SES volunteers will have access to an ongoing supply of cars that can be used to simulate the rescue of a person trapped in a car," Mr Wells said.

'Previously, the SES had to rely on donations from wreckers and community donations and, while gratefully received, these vehicles are not always representative of the more modern types of vehicles that are encountered." Under the Government's hoon laws, road menaces can have theircars impounded on the spot for 30 days.

Police can then apply to the courts to have the cars of repeat and serious offenders, including drink, drug and unlicensed drivers, impounded for up to another three months. The courts also can order permanent forfeiture. Under the legislation, hundreds of hoon cars have been crushed since July, 2010. Mr Wells said Victoria Police would begin donating some forfeited or abandoned vehicles to the SES and increase the number of cars donated to the CFA.

'The SES attends up to 1200 road rescues each year so these vehicles will provide SES members with real-life experience in freeing people trapped in vehicles," he said. Both the CFA and SES need to take vehicles apart in order to conduct training and skills maintenance and, until now, did not have enough vehicles for their training needs. We see the removal of these hoon cars from our roads for practical training for our SES and CFA members as a fantastic opportunity.'

"This partnership is a practical way to assist the SES and CFA and provides equipment to better train volunteers." The SES is the largest road rescue service in Victoria, with 102 road crash units across the state.