Statistics released last week show a worrying rise in road deaths across Australia with an overall increase of 8.5% in the past 12 months over the same time last year.
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The figures released by the Federal Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, show NSW topping the list for the 12 months to June this year with a 28% increase in road deaths (390 lives lost) while Tasmania showed a 24% increase and Victoria has risen more than 7% with 272 deaths.
Queensland showed a moderate 2.6% increase over the previous year with 241 deaths and South Australia experienced a 10% reduction with 100 deaths.
Terry Birss, CEO of Road Safety Education Limited, says the figures are a national tragedy leaving 1269 families devastated over this short period of time.
“Youth road safety education, which complies with Government guidelines should be essential for all high school students before they are handed the keys to the car.
“As Australia’s leading youth road safety educator, we are calling on Governments to support early intervention education but only where programs comply with Government guidelines, such as RYDA.” he said.
“The community should expect nothing less.
“Early road safety education is paramount to the reduction of road crash deaths.”
RYDA is also the only national road safety educator which complies with government guidelines including:
- small interactive working groups
- focus on attitude and awareness
- a take home personal road safety plan
- no graphic images designed to shock
RYDA is conducted at over 70 venues in Australia with more than 50,000 students attending each year totalling in excess of half a million to date.
RSE, a national not-for-profit organisation, is committed to reducing trauma on our roads by educating 16-18 year old high school students, through its youth road safety awareness program RYDA.
RYDA is a community-based initiative coordinated through local Rotary Clubs to help make our roads safer, with the generous support of corporate sponsors– Road Safety Education Limited