After decades of road safety campaigns, many people doubt their effectiveness. Some stay in the mind, a catchy jingle or a catch phrase, but do they really work?
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There is no doubt that education is the key to road safety: every campaign has its place, and some may leave a lasting effect on people, while others fade into the back of your minds.
Each campaign will educate a different sector of the population, so, are they effective? Yes. There is no one campaign or educational program that will affect 100 percent of the population.
As this is written the U Turn the Wheel program is being run for all year 11 students in the Southern Highlands, an initiative of the Rotary Club of Moss Vale and Wingecarribee Council. Students will hear from police, paramedics, trauma victims, and road safety educators.
The aim - to begin a dialogue with friends, school, family and others about how to reduce their risk on road by changing their attitude and behaviour when they drive.
Is it effective? It depends on what each person takes away with them from the day. They will all hear the messages from road safety experts, and different things will resonate with each person.
Road safety education is not about a blanket fix, and it should be aimed at different aspects of a driver’s needs and skill level. There is no doubt education is the key to reducing road trauma and death.
The latest campaign – No Excuses – aims directly at us, the drivers: our decisions and our behaviour.
It is up to us to change the devastating road toll that affects everyone in our community.
Drivers can and should continue their education after the driving test. There is no shortage of information on the RMS website and other road safety websites. Update your skills by reading the road users handbook and re-familiarise yourself wth some of the changes in the road rules. Attend a road safety education event or course. Eastern Creek holds excellent courses with Ian Luff, a renowned road safety educator – you may even have some fun in the process.
U Turn the Wheel is a valuable program that our local youth can attend and hear first hand the message of road safety. It is in their hands to change the statistics: their choices, attitude and behaviour on the road. This message is not just for the youth, it is for all drivers.
