By KATIE DE VERTEUIL
OVER the past two weeks, almost 500 Year 11 students from across the shire had a lesson in road safety, participating in the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program (RYDA).
This year’s participating schools included Noosa District High School, St Teresa Catholic College, Noosa Christian College, Sunshine Beach State High School, Noosaville Flexible learning Centre, Good Shepherd Noosaville and Coolum State High School.
The RYDA program, which was held at The House with no Steps, is run by the four Rotary clubs of Noosa in conjunction with Road Safety Education and is designed to create awareness in the minds of Year 11 students when they take those first steps on their way to becoming better drivers in the years ahead.
Statistics indicate that learner drivers are less vulnerable to road accidents because of parental guidance in those early days than those young adults once they get their P-plates and drive independently of the guidance of their parents or driving school instructors.
The program is divided up into six different sections, covering topics like Hazards, Distractions, Risks, Stopping distances, My wheels, Road choices and Crash survivor.
Road Choices is presented by the police along with a very powerful slide show and the students are invited to ask questions on this very important subject.
Crash Survivor is another very powerful session, presented by a survivor of a tragic vehicle accident which has left him to spend the rest of his life in a wheel chair.
The program is designed to instil into those young minds the consequences of making poor decisions, how one’s life and that of their family and friends can dramatically change because of one poor decision.
Impressed with the turnout, Rotary Club of Noosa’s Tess Alexandroff believes the program should become a compulsory part of the school curriculum.
“I would like to see this program made compulsory and put into the school program to make this a “must do” by all students,” Tess said.
Noosa Heads Rotary chairman Chris Shoobert agreed.
“Each year 300 young people are killed on our roads, 6000 injured,” he said.
“If you can save the life of just one kid then it is worth it.”
With the course focusing on teaching awareness, choices and responsibilities rather than technical driving skills it did not require the students to be behind the wheel.
“When you are learning to drive, there is always an adult in the car with you,” Chris continued.
“So that when it is time to drive by oneself, there is often a bit of “bravado” created, with many people thinking they are bulletproof, invincible.
“This course is about changing this perception and through doing so, ensure safer roads for everyone.”
Thoughts from participating students of St Teresa Catholic College. Harmonie Deane, 16:
“I have found the course really helpful. I am now a lot more conscious of the road safety measures and just how important they are.”
Jeremy Collins, 16:
“I have learnt so much out of today’s sessions. The stopping distance was something which I found particularly surprising and really useful to know.”
Abbie Slavion, 16:
“I’ve just got my Ls and the session has given me more confidence and awareness of what to look out for when driving.”
