Road safety literacy for speakers of English as a foreign language : educating novice drivers for the public's health safety

The public health dimensions of road safety literacy for novice drivers who speak English as a foreign language, are a concern due to increasing transnational mobility. The research literature indicates interest in this language issue in terms of comparisons with native English speakers, gender, and international evaluations. However, studies of road safety as a literacy issue are limited. Using an autobiographical approach this paper explores the textual, inter-textural and performative literacy of a Chinese learner-driver in Australia. Evidence of the learner-driver's life history, use of multiple languages, and cultural differences are shown to impact on her development of road safety literacy.