- In a WA-first, gamified learning will be used to educate students about road safety
- Free program run by the Road Safety Commission and aligned to the WA curriculum
- Shaping behaviour before young people go for their learners' permit
The Cook Government has launched a pilot road safety education program targeting Year 7 and 8 students across regional Western Australia.
For the first time, Road Smart Kickstart, an interactive program using gamified learning stations, will be rolled out in country schools to help shape road behaviours early.
The Road Safety Commission's dedicated education team is gearing up for thousands of kilometres on the road as they bring this vital education directly to regional communities, recognising that 60 per cent of road fatalities occur on regional roads.
More than 55 sessions are already scheduled across schools in the Great Southern, South West, and Wheatbelt regions reaching an impressive 1,414 young people.
Developed with input from highly experienced education content provider Kimberlin Education, the program comes in 55-minute and 110-minute sessions focused on road safety awareness and decision-making skills.
The school visits will also include opportunities for schools to apply for road safety grants, with the object being to encourage creative local initiatives to make local communities safer.
These grants will vary from $500 'Power Up' grants for small school community centred projects to $5,000 'Change Master' grants available to schools for more comprehensive programs.
The new programs will complement the successful Road Safety Commission funded Keys4Life education program that allows students over 15 to learn about safer driving and sit their Learner's Permit Theory Test.
Comments attributed to Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby:
"It is so important to invest in our young people because safe driving attitudes can save lives.
"By the time they begin thinking about getting a driver's licence, many young people have already, often unknowingly, been shaped by the behaviours and attitudes they've observed in others - particularly around speeding, distractions, seatbelt use, and peer pressure.
"Through gamified learning, students are able to explore their own thoughts and experiences - as pedestrians, cyclists, eRideable users, and passengers - and discover how these perspectives might influence them now, and as a future driver.
"We are thrilled that more than 1,414 students are already booked to complete the program in 2025, with strong forecasts on future bookings."
As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"It is crucial that all Western Australian students, including those in regional areas, learn how to drive safely on our roads and understand the consequences of reckless driving behaviours.
"Strong road safety education helps keep young people safe and protects them from the dangers of road accidents.
"I am pleased to see positive uptake of this innovative pilot program and look forward to seeing this range of initiatives implemented in our regional schools to help save lives."
