Do You Have a New Driver in Your House??

For those of us who have a child who is thinking about, or has started to learn how to drive, we know it can be a very stressful time for parents. As well as the practical skill of driving, our young people also need to learn about respecting other drivers, ensuring the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and now e-scooter drivers, and being aware of what is happening around you, while also keeping strictly focussed on the road.

National Road Safety Week takes place this year from 14 -21 May, and highlights the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it by acknowledging those people who have experienced trauma on our roads.  With 50% of spinal cord injuries being a result of a motor vehicle crash, and those in the 15 – 24 age group at the greatest risk, a greater focus is required to reduce this statistic and to ensure our family and friends arrive home safely.

PBF Australia (Paraplegic Benefit Fund) is a not-for profit organisation whose goal is to create greater awareness of the risks of spinal cord injuries. Their road injury prevention program is designed to reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads by engaging and educating pre and novice drivers on road risks and consequences of poor decision making.

The PBF injury presentation program speakers are inspiring individuals who have themselves sustained a permanent injury. The presentation offers participants a first-hand account of what it is like to experience and live with a spinal cord injury. Targeting students in years 10 -12, the program:

• Highlights the potential consequences of unsafe road behaviour.
• Increases knowledge of the “fatal 5” (speeding, not wearing seat belts, distraction, drugs and alcohol and fatigue).
• Communicates the impact of serious injury or death.
• Encourages positive attitudes to safe road behaviour.
• Demonstrates the personal responsibility for choices and the consequences; and
• Encourages young people to be assertive in communicating safe choices to peers.

PBF are able to offer schools their road safety program for free due to the ongoing support of RAC.  If your child's secondary school would like to engage one of PBF's speakers, please click on our link below for more information: https://www.pbf.asn.au/prevention/prevention-road/