1,146 lives were lost on Australian roads in 2018. This is the equivalent of more than 3 people dying on our roads every day of the year. A sobering statistic.
Even more sobering is the fact that young people continue to be over represented in road crash statistics, with 226 young lives being lost last year. But, for every life lost, another 30 lives are forever changed due to serious long term injuries.
Road safety authorities have implemented a range of initiatives including increased restrictions for new drivers and minimum log book hours which has seen a significant reduction in the youth road toll over the last decade. However, with the 17 – 25 year age group still overrepresented in road deaths, communities are realising that more needs to be done to protect our vulnerable road users, helping to keep everyone safe on the roads, not just those within the car being driven by a young driver.
Recognising that education is a critical element in reducing road trauma, especially for young drivers and their passengers, the combined Rotary Clubs of Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma are continuing their partnership with industry leader, Road Safety Education Limited (RSE) and are once again bringing the award-winning youth road safety education program RYDA to the community.
VIDEO: RYDA is a series of practical and powerful workshops that aim to change the way young people think about road safety.
Held locally at the Moruya Jockey Club, RYDA has been embedded in the local community for 12 years. In this time over 2,200 local students have had the opportunity to receive the life saving messages of the RYDA program. 2019 will see over 300 students from all five local schools attend the program on 1st and 2nd April.
RSE, a national not for profit organisation, is the provider of the RYDA program which runs at around 90 venues across Australia and New Zealand. Over half a million students have attended the program to date.
“RYDA is a series of practical and powerful workshops for high school students that challenge students to change the way they think about road safety and lay the foundation for safe road use throughout their lives”, said Greg Rappo, RSE Program Director.
“RYDA focuses on building and increasing social competency and resilience and motivating low-risk driver behaviour. Trained facilitators work with students to develop and practice personalised strategies which will help them respond positively to challenges on the road, both as drivers and as passengers.” Mr Rappo continued, “This education doesn’t come from driving lessons, or the school classroom.”
RYDA is made possible through the strong support of corporate partners, BOC, Toyota Australia, Bridgestone, MTAA Super and Boral Limited as well as community partner, Rotary.
Neil Simpson, RYDA Co-ordinator in Eurobodalla says “One of the great things about RYDA is that with the support of local Rotary Clubs, it can be run in all communities, by local volunteers, including road safety and education professionals and the police”.
“Youth Road Trauma is a community problem that needs a whole of community response” he said. “Our local rotary clubs and RSE are in a unique position to bring together all the essential elements to provide an effective and highly successful road safety education program our for young people.” "We look forward to challenging every Year 11 student in the Shire to become a safer passenger or driver from the day they attend RYDA.”
Further information can be found at www.rse.org.au
Contact: Neil Simpson – 0418 668 194 or Eurobodalla.ryda@gmail.com
