Hundreds of students learn the importance of road safety in interactive morning with emergency services

More than 550 Albany students learned about the consequences of risky driving last week thanks to the Project Road Smart event run by the RAC with support from emergency services.

The young audience was shown a filmed re-enactment of a serious car crash, complete with real-life paramedics, firefighters and police, to illustrate how emergency services respond to road trauma.

They also heard from Robert Pike, an amputee who lost three friends and his lower limbs in a tragic crash.

“I was the same age as these students with a mindset of ‘it would never happen to me’,”Mr Pike said.

“We were speeding, and we weren’t driving to the weather conditions.

“I hope my story has a heavy impact on our next generation of drivers and inspires them to create safe, lasting habits behind the wheel.”

With 20 people under the age of 19 losing their lives on WA roads in 2022, RAC general manager of external relations Will Golsby said he hopes the initiative will expose young drivers to the confronting realities of unsafe driving.

“The inexperience and overconfidence of many young drivers puts them at a significantly higher risk, which is why RAC Project Road Smart aims to provide a wake-up call that lasts,” Mr Golsby said.

“The continued loss of lives and serious injuries on our roads shows how vital it is to educate students about staying safe as a passenger and driver, especially for those living and learning how to drive in regional areas.

“We teach students the importance of safe driver and passenger behaviour, as well as the effects that alcohol, speed, reckless behaviour, and inattention have on driving.”

Students also heard from Happiness Co CEO Julian Pace on the importance of overcoming daily hurdles like peer pressure and making better decisions — both behind the wheel and in everyday life.

“We want to give our youth the tools to understand their own emotions, and create positive change around peer pressure while navigating through the daily hurdles of growing up,” Mr Pace said.

More than 550 students in Years 10 to 12 registered for the free road safety event, which took place at the Albany Entertainment Centre on October 17.

The RAC-run program has been delivered to more than 6000 young people in WA’s regional areas since 2019 with support from WA Police, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and St John WA.