Road safety work
An update on the ROADwhyz 'Choice & Consequence' young driver program .
As you know road safety for young drivers is a topic close to my heart having lost my own beautiful boys in a road crash that could have been avoided. As such I have been working on a road safety initiative that I have mentioned here before. We have been delivering the program now over the past 6 months, so far we have been to 6 local high schools and are about to have our first community event for parents and young drivers.
The program is getting great feedback and having some impact on the way our young people drive and their risk taking behaviour. we have has comments like:
"I am writing to say thank you for coming to our school last week. Although the information you told us and the stories you shared with us were a really big eye opener and a reality shock it was extremely good to be brought down of our high horses to face the real world of what the wrong choices can change and the consequences that those wrong choices can have.I hope that you continue educating young people about the life changing actions that can occur at the blink of an eye if they take their responsibility of driving for granted. We as young drivers need to remember that our license is not a right it is a privilege"
AND
"I am writing to thank you so much for coming to our school and not only showing us the dangers of the road, but also for waking up the current year 10 at St Joeys.
Sharing and being willing to discuss your personal stories and telling us the effects it has on yourself was very inspirational. Seeing what you’ve done and have gone through as so inspirational because, some of the stories and the things you have seen and gone through are very courageous.
Hearing and participating in this day has made me want to help people so much, I want to help prevent these devastating incidents occurring.
I want everyone to be more aware of the dangers off and even off the road.
So thank you greatly for what you have shown me and for the things you have done"
And this from a teacher:
"Last week I was asked to supervise a group of year eleven students who were participating in the Roadwhyz program. I dutifully went along in my allocated time slot and stepped straight into the most amazing experience of my teaching career.
The students were silently glued to a screen with graphic descriptions and visuals of a teenage road accident. There was a Chaplin, Police Officer, Rescue Officer and a small but intent looking lady in the room standing around looking not at the screen but carefully watching the students. Boxes of tissues were circulating and I quickly realised the power of this program.
I soon learned that the lady was Michelle, a mother, a mother who had lost her own children suddenly through a similar car accident. She was intent on ensuring that our students survive the risk of driving. All of the people presenting were intent on the same purpose. I'm sure the message was getting through.
The students heard from each of the people present, had opportunity to ask (and did) all kinds of questions from the seemingly trivial to the really hard and raw. They were provided with reading matter to support what was being presented , they were provided with emotional support and coping strategies, they had opportunity to speak with others and given the chance to realise the enormous responsibility of having a license.
I was only there for a short hour of the program but every student I have seen since is still talking about the program, every one that wasn't there has heard about how great it was, the staff are buzzing, it was the best program I have seen in a school ever.
Thank you for coming to Mount View High. I know that you have made a difference in the lives of the students here.
My own children attend junior years at Merewether High and Warners Bay High... I hope that your program is still running and gets picked up by these schools when they are of age to drive.
Good Luck Michelle.
Regards,
Liz Alder
Mount View High Teacher
As you can see the feedback is great, I have to believe we are making a difference, my boys are making a difference, after all this is all their doing. I am proud of the work that we are doing and the legacy we are creating in the memory of my son's Brendon and Mat and all other young drivers who have lost their lives this way.
As you know road safety for young drivers is a topic close to my heart having lost my own beautiful boys in a road crash that could have been avoided. As such I have been working on a road safety initiative that I have mentioned here before. We have been delivering the program now over the past 6 months, so far we have been to 6 local high schools and are about to have our first community event for parents and young drivers.
The program is getting great feedback and having some impact on the way our young people drive and their risk taking behaviour. we have has comments like:
"I am writing to say thank you for coming to our school last week. Although the information you told us and the stories you shared with us were a really big eye opener and a reality shock it was extremely good to be brought down of our high horses to face the real world of what the wrong choices can change and the consequences that those wrong choices can have.I hope that you continue educating young people about the life changing actions that can occur at the blink of an eye if they take their responsibility of driving for granted. We as young drivers need to remember that our license is not a right it is a privilege"
AND
"I am writing to thank you so much for coming to our school and not only showing us the dangers of the road, but also for waking up the current year 10 at St Joeys.
Sharing and being willing to discuss your personal stories and telling us the effects it has on yourself was very inspirational. Seeing what you’ve done and have gone through as so inspirational because, some of the stories and the things you have seen and gone through are very courageous.
Hearing and participating in this day has made me want to help people so much, I want to help prevent these devastating incidents occurring.
I want everyone to be more aware of the dangers off and even off the road.
So thank you greatly for what you have shown me and for the things you have done"
And this from a teacher:
"Last week I was asked to supervise a group of year eleven students who were participating in the Roadwhyz program. I dutifully went along in my allocated time slot and stepped straight into the most amazing experience of my teaching career.
The students were silently glued to a screen with graphic descriptions and visuals of a teenage road accident. There was a Chaplin, Police Officer, Rescue Officer and a small but intent looking lady in the room standing around looking not at the screen but carefully watching the students. Boxes of tissues were circulating and I quickly realised the power of this program.
I soon learned that the lady was Michelle, a mother, a mother who had lost her own children suddenly through a similar car accident. She was intent on ensuring that our students survive the risk of driving. All of the people presenting were intent on the same purpose. I'm sure the message was getting through.
The students heard from each of the people present, had opportunity to ask (and did) all kinds of questions from the seemingly trivial to the really hard and raw. They were provided with reading matter to support what was being presented , they were provided with emotional support and coping strategies, they had opportunity to speak with others and given the chance to realise the enormous responsibility of having a license.
I was only there for a short hour of the program but every student I have seen since is still talking about the program, every one that wasn't there has heard about how great it was, the staff are buzzing, it was the best program I have seen in a school ever.
Thank you for coming to Mount View High. I know that you have made a difference in the lives of the students here.
My own children attend junior years at Merewether High and Warners Bay High... I hope that your program is still running and gets picked up by these schools when they are of age to drive.
Good Luck Michelle.
Regards,
Liz Alder
Mount View High Teacher
As you can see the feedback is great, I have to believe we are making a difference, my boys are making a difference, after all this is all their doing. I am proud of the work that we are doing and the legacy we are creating in the memory of my son's Brendon and Mat and all other young drivers who have lost their lives this way.
posted by Michelle @ 1:38 PM
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