Twenty years ago, a tragic local accident was the stimulus for a new road safety education program, which was developed by road safety experts, Wingecarribbee Council Road Safety Officer and the Rotary Club of Moss Vale.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After research and development, the iniative U Turn the wheel - it's your choice, was developed and in 1999 the first program was conducted at the Moss Vale Showground.
It was designed to start the conversation with young people, parents and the school community on road safety, attitudes and behaviour on road.
How could we as a community help reduce the devastating road toll in the most vulnerable group of road users - novice drivers in their first year of solo driving.
Year 11 school students were the target audience as many had their learners or provisional licences and were in this vulnerable group of road users.
The program covers the causes of crashes, the effects and outcomes and the enforcement of the law in road safety. Students meet road safety experts, Police, Ambulance and road trauma victims to help start the conversation that will help these people build strategies to stay safe on road.
Young drivers must navigate a difficult process of learning the road rules and how their attitudes and behaviours on road can affect many people.
READ ALSO: Wingecarribee shelter euthanasia
As novice drivers on their P-plates they are still learning and will make mistakes through this process. As a wider community we should help guide them through this difficult process.
It is common to hear this age group being blamed for many things; however, we must remember they are still learning and need guidance and support.
Letting them explore the information and solutions is part of the educational solution to the issue.
U Turn the Wheel has always made the wider community and family pivotal to finding these solutions and supporting these young drivers navigate their way to safer driving practices.
The program is now in it's 20th year and has been the foundation of many other programs available, it is run in many Rotary Districts around Australia.
For the last 10 years the program has operated out of the Mittagong RSL Club where students can engage in the program and take the information home for parents and teachers to continue the discussion about solutions to the issues.
This year the program is again running in August and October for all schools in the Southern Highlands, Year 11 students.
The Rotary Club of Moss Vale is grateful for the ongoing support from Mittagong RSL - Clubgrant, IMB Community Foundation grant, Moss Vale McDonalds, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, Highlands Drivesafe, Berrima Buslines and many community Volunteers from Volwing, Inner Wheel, Probus and local Rotarians.
Our appreciation and thanksgoes out to these organisations for their continued support and dedication to this important training program over the last 20 years in the Southern Highlands.
Details: www.uturnthewheel.com
- Sue Tyler