Young people aged 17-25 years represent 13% of the population that account for 30% of motorists killed or seriously injured in road crashes.

The Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program focuses on attitude and awareness with the aim of helping young adults become better people on the road. The programme highlights the privilege and responsibilities of owning and driving a motor vehicle and also illustrates their rights and responsibilities as passengers and pedestrians.

It is a one-day event held at a non-school site which co-ordinates the efforts of local road safety experts, driving instructors, the Police, recovering survivors of road crashes, drug & alcohol educators and financial services personnel.

The delivery of the RYDA Programme is managed by Rotary clubs.

Students are divided into six groups with approximately 25 people in each group and move through the six session program.  Each session lasts for approximately 30 minutes.

These pictures were take at recent training session a Symmons Plains

(South of Launceston) and attended by members

of the Youngtown Rotary Club.

Topics Covered are:-

Stopping Distance:-

Students are shown the impact of differing speeds, reaction time and vehicle traction on the length of time that it takes to stop a vehicle.  They are given the opportunity to travel in a vehicle, driven by a licensed driving instructor, as well as observe from outside.  The importance of the condition of the vehicle is emphasised along with the impact of road conditions.

Hazard Perception:-

An interactive discussion amied at familiarising students with the most common crashes involving young people.  By establishing what hazards are, how to anticipate them and strategies to avoid them, students gain valuable knowledge, encouraging a development of their attitudes towards safe driving.

Safe Celebrating and Fatigue:-

An interactive discussion about the effects of drugs, alchol and fatigue on a person's reaction time and ability to make decisions whilst driving.  Through the use of workshops, students identify alternative actions and contingency plans to ensure they are celebrating safely.

Your Choice - Police:-

Students are shown a video containing footage of a young lady whose life is cut tragically short on the night of her 18th birthday party after a crash involving alchol and excessive speed.  The Police Officer invites an open discussion with the students about the video and its themes.

Crashes Do Happen -

Personal stories from road crash survivors:-

A powerful presentation by a crash survivor who has a brain injury as a result of a vehicle crash.  The session demonstrates to students that car crashes can happen to them and that such crashes can leave permanent trauma for the survivor, their families and the community at large.

Finance and Insurance:-

An interactive presentation, involving role-plays aiming to raise the level of financial literacy in relation to insurance, registration, buying a vehicle and other related topics.