Wednesday 26 August 2009
Our guest speaker was Greg Rappo the Director of Program Development for RYDA. Greg was introduced by Kevin Beltrame.
Greg advised us that like many Rotary programs RYDA had a modest beginning. A local club identified the number of young people being killed on the roads as an issue and asked what can Rotary do about this issue. The result is the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program.
Young people aged 17 to 25 constitute 15% of the population however this group are over-represented in road accidents accounting for 25% of them. Some of the reasons for this are:
- over confidence and risk taking
- driver inexperience
- having friends as passengers
- alcohol, drugs and busy lifestyles
- brain not fully developed.
RYDA is run with expert input from road safety bodies such as the RTA, education departments and the police. The result is a successful program which has been running for more than nine years.
The format employed by the program is a one day school excursion at an off site venue for Year 11 students. The students are split into small groups of 25 to 30 students so that the sessions can be interactive.
The topics covered include:
- safe celebrating and fatigue
- hazard perception
- financial responsibilities
- making a choice- police session
- personal stories of accident survivors who tell of the consequences to them, their families and the wider community of their poor choices.Greg advised us that the practical demonstration of stopping distances was an important part of the program. The demonstration of the law of physics that in doubling the speed of a motor vehicle you quadruple the stopping distance has a significant impact on participants.
When being split into smaller groups students are given a coloured wristband to identify their group. Each wristband has written on it “My life- My choices”. The aim of the program is to influence the attitudes and awareness of participants so that it is more likely that they will make good choices when driving, or when being driven in, a motor car.
Students are encouraged to visit the RYDA web site and the relevant address is also set out on the wristbands. This has proven to be much more effective than using handouts which were often discarded soon after receipt.
Each participant pays $15 towards the cost of running the program. The shortfall is met by Rotary contributions and sponsorship. BOC has been the major sponsor for four years and has recently renewed their sponsorship for a further four years.
Greg advised us that RYDA Australia Limited is a not for profit company set up to ensure the relevance, currency and consistency of the RYDA program nationally. It is a professionally managed organisation which can meet with relevant government ministers and foster the development of the program at the highest levels.
Greg stressed the critical role of the local Rotary clubs in providing local school contacts, community credibility and in providing volunteers to assist with the running of the program.
Greg stated that RYDA was very good for young people and very good for Rotary. In conclusion Greg noted that “Youth are our future, our inspiration and our responsibility”. Greg was thanked by Doug Potter.
