Program drives home safety message

The State's "horrendous" road toll has prompted the South West Youth Driver Development Program to increase its efforts to stop the carnage on regional roads.

Organisers will hold free driver forums every month in a bid to stop WA's road toll from rising by giving road users a better appreciation of country driving hazards.

So far 59 people have died on WA roads this year - including 42 on regional roads - and it is estimated a further 834 people have received serious injuries in crashes.

Last year, 331 people were killed or seriously injured on South West roads alone.

The road toll rose over the weekend after another four people died on country roads, including a 10-year-old boy who was killed when his 16-year-old brother lost control of a car along South West Highway in Jerramungup on Sunday.

Police say the learner driver lost control on a gravel verge, causing the vehicle to roll several times.

Program patron Dennis Courtney said Sunday's crash was a result of the exact kind of scenarios the group's forums and courses focused on.

He said the statistics spoke for themselves and they had also prompted the group to take action.

"Following the horrendous road safety stats, we thought 'we've got that knowledge' and it's no biggie for us to put it out there and try and help," Mr Courtney said.

Mr Courtney helped initiate the driver program almost 20 years ago and said it was an effective strategy.

"The feedback over the past 20 years has been that the info we're putting out will help them avoid accidents," he said.

"We've taken bits and pieces of our two-day course particularly with information and skills which people can use on country roads.

"I encourage all parents and kids to attend."

The forums will be held on the second Wednesday of each month starting on May 11 and are open to all South West residents.

"The feedback over the past 20 years has been that the info we're putting out will help them avoid accidents" - Dennis Courtney