safety first: Local Area Commander of the Hunter Valley, Acting Superintendent Tony Joice, opens the RYDA presentation.
Young drivers learnt about the perils of being on the road through the RYDA program last week.
It was the first time the RDYA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) program was held in the Upper Hunter and it was an initiative of Scone and Murrurundi Rotary.
Presenters on the day included police, ambulance and emergency service workers as well as victims of road trauma and their carers.
Students also learnt about the dangers of alcohol and drugs, particularly when it came to getting behind the wheel.
Local Area Commander of the Hunter Valley, Acting Superintendent Tony Joice, opened the day.
He thanked the rotary organisers of RYDA for making the day possible as it
provided many benefits to those just beginning to drive.
“I think it is a wonderful resource to fill the gaps in terms of road rules and knowledge,” Acting Superintendent Joice said.
“It gives young drivers a perspective in their decision making and shows them the consequences of risk taking behaviour.
“I encourage this sort of thing.
“We still have trouble getting the road safety message through to young drivers.”
Year 11 students from St Joseph’s Aberdeen, Scone Grammar and Scone High School participated in the day held at the Scone racecourse on Monday.
“We need organisations like Rotary to get road safety education off the ground,” Acting Superintendent Joice said.