RYDA in Southern Tasmania -
Helping to Make Roads a Safer Place
Young people aged 16-25 represent less that 15% of the population yet account for over a quarter of deaths and injuries on our Australian roads. The RYDA road safety education program is a community based initiative of Rotary clubs to stop the tragic loss of young people in road crashes. RYDA is represented by road safety professionals and to date more than 130,000 Year 10 high school students have had the opportunity to attend this potentially lifesaving program in Australia.
Year 10 students from Hobart and the Huon Valley high schools have participated in the RYDA Program at the Royal Hobart Show Grounds and the Huon Valley PCYC during April & May 2010. This is the first year that the program has been held in the Huon district.
RYDA is organised by Rotarians from clubs in Southern Tasmania with generous support from the Tasmanian State Government, the Huonville Council, local businesses and major sponsor BOC.
“RYDA aims to ensure that when young people begin driving, they already have received the best road safety education possible. The program is unique as it attempts to influence attitudes and behaviours of both driver and passengers before they get their licence” explained Charles Cook, District chair of the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program in District 9830.
Charles continues, “Peer pressure from passengers has a major effect on the way young people behave behind the wheel. By addressing students as both drivers & passengers, the program aims to change the environment in the car rather that focusing solely on the driver. Experience indicates that once young people actually start driving, it is generally too late for training as they have already developed a strong- and often incorrect- belief in their own competencies.”
The one day RYDA program includes six sessions that are designed to be interactive and cover a broad range of topics including hazard perception, stopping distances, driver distractions and fatigue plus financial and safety responsibilities- all aimed at influencing the attitude of young people before they get behind the wheel.
Students get to meet and speak with a person who has experienced a devastating road accident; to see the distance it does take to stop a vehicle travelling at different speeds and to realise that an extra 10 KPH can, in some circumstances, have tragic consequences.
RYDA is funded nationally by principal sponsor BOC, a leading provider of gases and safety products, plus local and state governments, businesses, local Rotary clubs and a nominal fee from the students. Presenters are all accredited experts in their fields, including driving instructors and local Police Officers.
In the Hobart event 2500 students will attend together with teachers from a number of High Schools. About 100 Rotarians will offer their help during the 3 weeks, including the organising committee. The lunches for teachers, presenters & Rotarians, have been arranged by members of the Rotary Club of Glenorchy. They also set up a daily BBQ to provide for the students. The catering side was organised by Rotarian Brian Richardson.
As well in Tasmania RYDA programs will be run in Northern and North West Tasmania.
A well known Rotarian, Maurie Oborne, now in his 80’s, is so enthusiastic about RYDA that he recently stated: “Before I die, I want to see every Year 10 student in the state attend a RDYA course.”
Further information on RYDA is available from
Charles Cook- Chair for RYDA in Tasmania- phone number 03 6249244
RYDA National Office- phone number 1300 127 642 www.ryda.org.au