The Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program is being supported by Jonathan O’Dea, the Member for Davidson, as a way of making the roads safer for the whole community by training young people about better driving practices.
“It is anticipated by the end of the year almost 10,000 students will go through the training at St Ives – including students from Oxford Falls Grammar, Covenant Christian and Davidson High Schools,” Mr O’Dea said.
“RYDA aims to ensure when young people begin driving, they have already received the best driver safety education possible. The program is unique as it attempts to influence attitudes and behaviours of both drivers and passengers before they get their licence.
“Peer pressure from passengers has a major affect of the way young people behave behind the wheel. By addressing students as both drivers and passengers, the program aims to change the environment in the car rather than focusing solely on the driver.
“The importance of RYDA cannot be underestimated as the RTA reports that despite 17-25 year-olds only making up 12 percent of the population, account for 27 percent of motorists killed or seriously injured in accidents.”
RYDA was developed in consultation with the NSW Department of Education and the RTA.
Mr O’Dea said RYDA is run with the support of local Rotarians and major sponsor BOC, a leading industrial gas company.
For more information on RYDA or to learn how your school can get involved, email info@ryda.org.au go to www.ryda.org.au or phone Cathy Sherwood 0419 274 959.
For further information, please call Jonathan O’Dea on 0418 241 500.
