Improving road safety through education
22 June 2010
People across Western Australia now have greater access to road safety advice and education from the RAC with the introduction of special regional presentations via the Westlink network*.
The presentations are conducted by the RAC Community Education team and focus on educating novice drivers, people learning to drive and their parents.
Young drivers are among the most at-risk on Western Australia’s roads, making up 14 per cent of the driving population but accounting for almost one third of serious and fatal crashes**.
RAC Community Education Manager Sharna Mensah said broadcasting the presentations was an effective way to get the road safety message out to the regions.
“The RAC is committed to creating safer drivers by working together with other road safety organisations, not just in the metropolitan area, but across the state,” Ms Mensah said.
“Education is a very important part of the RAC’s approach to road safety and through the Westlink network we are now able to reach more than 180 communities we wouldn’t normally be able to access.
“Regional locations have some of the most dangerous roads in the State and about 60 per cent of all WA road deaths each year occur in regional areas so it’s important to have drivers who know how to use the roads safely.”
The broadcast will include the Keys for Life workshop which has been developed by the RAC’s partner School Drug Education and Road Aware (SDERA). Keys for Life is designed to empower parents or supervisors and their learner drivers by providing information about the WA licensing system, the stages of learning to drive and tips for successful and safe lessons.
The upcoming workshops will be broadcast on the Westlink network (channel 23) at 6pm Wednesday 23 June and 5pm Tuesday 29 June.
Westlink can be accessed through satellite TV as well as local community resource centres and TAFE. Anyone who is unsure how to access the presentations can contact RAC Community Education on 9436 4471.
*Westlink is an education and public information television station for regional Western Australia
**According to the Towards Zero road safety strategy
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