Esperance Anglican Community School

ESPERANCE ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL

RAC PROJECT ROAD SAFETY

Educating new and future drivers to help reduce road deaths and injury rates was the main aim of the RAC Project Road Smart Event when it visited Esperance recently. Students from Years 10 to 12 at Esperance Anglican Community School were among a group of young people who attended the event at the Esperance Civic Centre.

The program is run by RAC with the support of the WA Police Force, Department of Fire and Emergency Services and St John Ambulance. It included guest speakers, a docudrama, and speeches and crash scenes from the emergency service officers to encourage students to make safe decisions both as the driver and the passenger. Guest speaker Robert Pike spoke of his personal experience with trauma which changed his life forever. He enlightened the students on how his decisions had significant consequences, including losing three of his close friends, as well as losing his legs from the knees down. His story was confronting and upsetting but highlighted the seriousness of car accidents and the importance of making safe decisions. Following from this, students viewed a docudrama which included a crash re-enactment with teenagers. It showed an example of the devastation associated with car accidents and the lasting impact on all those involved. Through this docudrama, students were able to understand how their decisions can impact not only themselves, but also the people around them. It also looked at the consequences of unsafe decisions, such as drink driving. Students then had an opportunity to interact with local emergency services and learn about the equipment used to respond at the scene of a crash. A police car, ambulance and fire truck were set up outside the Civic Centre. Students were able to go into the vehicles and view and use the equipment such as the jaws of life. This gave students an insight into the equipment required at emergencies and how it works to help saves lives.

In 2018, 68 per cent of 17-19-year-olds killed on the roads were in regional WA. The organisers of the event hope that the scenes, which are at times confronting, promote conversations between young people and at home and encourage responsible decision making.