Senior students from six high schools in the west took driver safety into their own hands last week.
Year 11 students from Hoppers Crossing Secondary College, Emmanuel College, Catholic Regional College, McKillop College, The Grange P-12 College and Werribee Secondary College took part in a half-day Fit2Drive forum, encouraging them to take ownership and responsibility for safety on the road.
The students had to come up with advertising strategies to discourage speeding, drug-driving and other common risk factors then presented their ideas to Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill.
Mr Hill was impressed by the presentations, which included a “no need for speed” Facebook page and a 20-second YouTube ad that emphasised the importance of completing 120 hours of driving before getting a licence.
“We take our safety for granted on the roads,” Mr Hill said. “There’s still a desire to get somewhere as fast as you can … but a 10 per cent reduction in speed relates to a 40 per cent reduction in road trauma.”
The forum was organised through RoadSafe Westgate, which is supported by the Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Melton councils.
RoadSafe Westgate chairman Jim Giddings said it was important young drivers were given opportunities to participate in best-practice programs on driver behaviour.
“Young drivers comprise a small proportion of licensed drivers, yet are substantially more involved and over-represented in road crashes, fatalities and injuries than other drivers,”
Mr Giddings said.
Forum guest speaker Anthony Bartl knows first-hand how a split-second decision can change a life. He was six years old when he was hit by a car while crossing a road on his way home from school. The accident broke his spine at C1 – meaning he cannot feel anything below his neck. The 35-year-old is wheelchair-bound and requires 24-hour care.
“It’s vitally important to get the message out – being a victim has a bigger affect on kids and really brings the consequences home to them,” he said of his talk.
