A record 15,000 high school students have witnessed the tragedy and life-changing consequences of road trauma at RAC bstreetsmart, delivered in partnership with WA’s emergency services.
RAC bstreetsmart featured a live crash scene re-enactment, response from real-life paramedics, firefighters and police, and first-hand accounts from guest speakers directly impacted by road trauma.
RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby said young drivers were among Western Australia’s most vulnerable and were consistently over-represented in crash statistics.
“RAC bstreetsmart educates students about safe driver and passenger behaviour, including the effects of alcohol, speed, recklessness, and distraction,” Mr Golsby said.
“The inexperience and overconfidence of young drivers puts them at significantly higher risk, which is why RAC bstreetsmart aims to provide a lasting wake-up call.”
Robert Pike, who was involved in a tragic car accident which led to the loss of three friends, and the loss of his legs below the knees, shared his personal experience with road trauma.
“My experience is a key example of how the attitude of ‘it won't happen to me’ can have lifelong consequences - not just for yourself, but for your friends and family as well,” Mr Pike said.
“I was a similar age to these students when my life changed forever. I hope my story shows the importance of making safe, responsible decisions behind the wheel.”
Department of Fire and Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Operations Craig Waters AFSM said firefighters responded to more than 3,330 road crash rescue incidents over the past year, including 470 in the first two months of 2024.
“Road crashes can be some of the most confronting incidents our firefighters attend, often rescuing people with horrific injuries trapped in wrecks of twisted metal and shattered glass,” Deputy Commissioner Waters said.
“In regional areas, volunteer firefighters regularly respond to crashes where they know the people involved, which can be an incredibly difficult experience, especially if there is a fatality.”
Commander Mike Bell, WA Police Road Policing Command said bad driving behaviours can result in dangerous crashes on our roads.
“We're continuing to see crashes being caused by younger drivers, because they're distracted by mobile phones,” Commander Bell said.”
"Speeding, fatigue, impaired (both drug and alcohol), distracted and restraints are what we refer to as the ‘fatal 5’. These factors are overrepresented in fatal and serious crashes.”
St John WA Chief Preventative Officer Megs O’Donnell said the event provides future drivers with a glimpse of the devastation of road trauma.
“St John WA is incredibly proud to continue supporting RAC bstreetmart, which shows how important it is to empower our young people with knowledge, so they can become safer drivers,” Ms O’Donnell said.
Nearly 140 schools registered to attend this year’s event, which means over 97,000 year 10-12 students will have seen RAC bstreetsmart since RAC first hosted the event in 2012.
RAC also takes this important message into the regions through RAC Project Road Smart, which travels to various locations in regional WA each year to provide a similar experience and education.
ENDS
About RAC bstreetsmart
RAC bstreetsmart is a free annual event for year 10-12 students demonstrating the consequences of distracted driving, speeding and drink and drug driving with the help of DFES, WA Police, St John WA and Royal Perth Hospital.
Media contact: RAC media team, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
