Over 600 students from nine Albany high schools will learn about the life-changing reality of road trauma during RAC Project Road Smart at the Albany Entertainment Centre today.
As part of the event, students will watch a filmed re-enactment of a serious car crash, featuring real-life paramedics, firefighters and police who demonstrate how they respond to and treat victims of road trauma.
RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby said the event is a powerful road safety message to young people who are starting their journey of learning to drive.
“Young people continue to be some of our most vulnerable road users, and tragically, the number of 17 to 19 year olds killed on our roads last year doubled compared to 2019 figures,” Mr Golsby said.
“RAC Project Road Smart aims to reduce the number of young people being killed and seriously injured by educating them on road safety and the consequences of bad decisions such as speeding, distraction, and drink and drug driving.
“It’s an important opportunity to deliver a crucial message to future drivers in regional WA – that complacency and reckless behaviour behind the wheel can change your life forever.”
Students will also hear first-hand accounts from various guest speakers and participate in several road safety activities with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, WA Police Force and St John WA.
Robert Pike, who was involved in a tragic crash which led to the loss of three friends and the loss of his legs from below the knees, will share his personal experiences with road trauma.
“All it takes is a fraction of a second, a small distraction, a moment, that will change your life forever,” Mr Pike said.
“I had friends, I had both my feet, and just like that all those things were gone! Driving requires all your attention, 100 per cent of the time.”
Students will also hear from guest speaker Julian Pace, CEO of Happiness Co. about overcoming peer pressure and the importance of the decisions they make.
“This is about giving them tools to understand how they feel and how their behaviour matters,” Mr Pace said.
“We want to help our youth raise their voices, not so that they can shout, but so they can start to create positive change around peer pressure.”
RAC Project Road Smart is a free road safety event for Year 10 to 12 students, run by RAC with the support of the WA Police Force, Department of Fire and Emergency Services and St John WA.
In addition to the event, RAC recommends students take advantage of other programs such as Keys2drive which gives learner drivers a free lesson with an accredited driving instructor.
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Media contact: Mikayla Wearne, 0401 703 719 or media@rac.com.au
