By MEGAN WILSON
STUDENTS are being encouraged to attend the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) Program, which is being rolled out across the Noosa Region for the sixth consecutive year.
The RYDA Program is a one-day intensive workshop aimed at all Year 11 and 12 students and raises awareness of road safety through practical and powerful workshops.
The RYDA Program has never been more important with the latest figures from the Queensland Police Service Easter road safety campaign seeing four people lose their lives in road accidents and more than 4100 drivers detected speeding with the highest speed detected at 193km/h on the Bruce Highway.
The workshops are designed for 16 to 18 year old students between Coolum and Cooroy and focus on teaching students the importance of making the right choice on the road, being aware of stopping distances, and being aware of hazards and risks while driving.
This program is unique as it includes an intimate and powerful conversation with a crash survivor and students can hear first-hand how one poor choice can change a life forever.
This important program only reached 35 per cent of students last year but Rotary are determined to raise the attendance rate to 90 per cent this year by offering disadvantaged students a subsidised payment option.
The program costs $15 per student. Parents and teachers are encouraged to contact Rotary at tahnia@ryda.org.au for more information.
