News & Publications

RoyalAuto: Public Issue Campaign: Rural Road Safety Program
Tuesday, 17 February 2004

RoyalAuto Article Feb Edition

Public Issue Campaign: Rural Road Safety Program

By Natasha Anderson, Public Policy Department.

The September 2003 edition of RoyalAuto featured a special report on RACV’s Rural Road Safety Program. Community organizations in rural Victoria were invited to bid for one-off grant funding of up to $15,000 to develop a locally based road safety initiative as part of this program.

Rural communities responded enthusiastically to the program and over 50 applications for funding were received. A diverse range of groups, including road safety agencies, sporting clubs, rotary groups and schools, applied for the funding to support many different road safety initiatives.

A judging panel comprising representatives from RACV, as well as representatives from Country Womens’ Association, Rural Ambulance Victoria and ABC Radio considered all of the applications and after much deliberation, selected the seven winning projects that would share the $91,000 grant funding.

These projects all reflected sound road safety initiatives that engaged with many different community groups all with the aim of reducing road trauma in their region. Each of these projects will be implemented during 2004.

Here is a summary of the projects that will receive the RACV funding:

Road Safety for Disconnected Young People – Bendigo

‘Future Connections’ a training and development agency for youth will work collaboratively with other community groups, to implement a program targeting “at-risk” young people, many of whom have poor literacy skills. The program will help them learn road law knowledge and to obtain their learners permit. The second element of the project involves the establishment of a program to help disadvantaged Learners get on-road driving experience. Local volunteers will be trained and matched to a young person, and will provide them with valuable on-road experience.

Managing the Transition from driver to non-driver – Wodonga

The ‘Continuing Education Centre’ will lead a project in Wodonga to:

  • Provide information and support to older road users who are considering stopping driving or who have stopped driving
  • Provide information and support to families and health professionals working with older road users
  • Improve pedestrian safety by working with the City of Wodonga to train volunteers to conduct footpath audits
  • Improve public transport services by working closely with the local public transport company, Mylon Motorways.

Scooter Safety for Seniors – Western Victoria

‘Vision Australia Foundation’ will implement practical training and information sessions for users and providers of electronic scooters. Topics covered will include practical demonstrations, assessment procedures, impact of health issues, current scooter laws, improvement of community infrastructure and improving the user’s visibility. These information sessions will be held throughout Western Victoria during 2004.

Supporting the Walking School Bus Program - Geelong

The ‘City of Greater Geelong’ co-ordinates the Geelong Walking School Bus Initiative– a program that enables a safe and healthy way for children to get to and from school with other children, supervised by a rostered group of parents, grandparents or adult community members. The RACV grant will be used to introduce the program to more schools and the development of a kit to assist with program implementation, including a term planner and information session at each school.

Licensing program for Koori people - Shepparton

KEETA (Koori Economic Employment & Training Agency) will implement a student driver program involving 16 indigenous persons seeking to enter mainstream employment. The program will assist participants obtain and learn road laws, help participants ultimately sit for a Learner Permit and provide assistance with organizing proof of identity (including payment for certified copies of birth certificates). The program will also include the development of strategies for the young people to then obtain supervised driving experience to eventually obtain a licence.

Youth road safety strategy – Traralgon

Various organizations, including Vic Police, VicRoads, Latrobe City Council, Latrobe RoadSafe, Dept. of Education and Training, Latrobe City Youth Council and Latrobe Regional Hospital, will develop and introduce a multi-faceted program for Year 10, 11 and 12 secondary students to better prepare and educate young drivers within the City of Latrobe. The introduction of the ‘Young Persons Road Safety Campaign’ will occur in an integrated approach utilizing curriculum based education programs, continuation of existing ‘road safety’ programs and the introduction of additional programs.

Fit to Drive - Macedon

The Macedon Ranges ‘Fit to Drive’ program is based on the successful Fit to Drive program operating on the Mornington Peninsula. The Macedon program will involve the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, VicRoads, and five local Secondary Schools. The project aims to reduce the number of young people involved in road crashes in the Macedon Ranges Shire and will concentrate on Year 10-12 students. The RACV funding will be used to conduct peer facilitated discussion groups for all of the Year 11 students at participating schools.