RAC’s Community Education team begins its trip to the South West next week to educate students about staying safe on the roads.
RAC General Manager Corporate Affairs, Will Golsby said 43 lives had already been lost on regional roads this year and it was crucial to educate students about road safety to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
“We teach students about the importance of safe driving and being a responsible passenger, as well as the effects that alcohol, speed, reckless behaviour and inattention have on driving,” Mr Golsby said.
“Young drivers continue to be over-represented in WA’s road trauma figures and, tragically, are at much higher risk of being killed or seriously injured on our roads.”
“Combine this with driving in regional areas, where the fatality rate is five times higher than Perth metropolitan, and it is clear young people in regional WA are at an even higher risk.
“Drivers are also becoming increasingly distracted, with inattention now comparable to the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by speed and drink driving.
RAC’s recent Young Driver Survey found that more than 50% of young drivers are using their phones behind the wheel, despite ranking the behaviour as more risky than low level drink driving.
“These results are very concerning and show that while young drivers recognise risky behaviour on the roads, many still engage in them,” Mr Golsby said.
RAC’s Community Education team will visit Georgiana Molloy Anglican School, JSW Training Community Services, Cape Naturaliste College, Busselton Senior High School, Margaret River Senior High School and Mackillop Catholic College.
The road safety presentations are tailored according to the needs of local schools and combine visual, factual and interactive learning activities in a road safety workshop.
Students attending the keys4life road safety day at Mackillop Catholic College will also have the opportunity to hop on board the RAC Rescue Experience which gives passengers an insight into the incredible work that the RAC Rescue helicopters do every hour of every day.
In conjunction with RAC’s road safety presentations, it is recommended that students take advantage of other programs such as keys2drive which gives learner drivers a free lesson with an accredited instructor.
For more information about RAC Community Education, visit here
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Media Contact: Mikayla Wearne 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
