With roads and highways heaving with Christmas traffic, the crew from Seven Sharp, partnering with Toyota, decided drop in on a RYDA workshop to share some of the great tips and learning our students get when they participate in this essential road safety education.
Knowledge or confidence? Sgt Snr Constable Rob Everitt says, “We want both. We want them to be fully aware of the dangers of the road and also to be confident they know what they’re doing.”
RSE’s Maria Lovelock says, “I love seeing the students engaging with the content and coming away with ‘ah ha’ moments – they’re going to make better decisions as a result of this program”.
Supporting the learning students are taking from the RYDA programme is RSE’s new parent programme, Drive Coach, designed to help parents as they coach their teenagers on the learn to drive journey. Maria describes the discussions RSE have during the Drive Coach programme “we say to parents, don’t just do a Sunday afternoon drive – take them out in wet weather, take them out on long trips – lean in and make the most of the learner period”.
Seven Sharp spoke with some school leavers who had attended RYDA 18 months earlier. The message still clearly resonating, one saying “it’s always popping up into my head and reminding me”.
RYDA facilitator, Albie Lionheart summed up his feelings, “I absolutely think we’re making a big difference. Really picking up on the concepts which is, I think, what you really need at that age”.
