Emergency services give young drivers a road safety wake-up call

• Free road safety event smashes attendance record with 15,000 high school students learning the life-changing consequences of road trauma,
• Emergency services recreated a realistic crash scene to show the dangers of distracted driving, speeding, and intoxicated driving,
• Young drivers can empower themselves with the skills to save a life by completing a free online course through St John WA.

St John WA helped put the devastating reality of road trauma under the spotlight this week in a live crash re-enactment in front of 15,000 high school students.  

The confronting scenes were part of RAC’s annual bstreetsmart event which drew a record crowd of Year 10-12 students from nearly 140 schools on March 26 and 27. 

The free road safety event aims to leave a lasting impression on students by giving them a hard look at the consequences of distracted driving, speeding, and intoxicated driving.  

SJWA, WA Police and Department of Fire and Emergency Services crews have taken part since 2012, recreating a real response to a crash at RAC arena.  

Students also heard from guest speaker Robert Pike, who tragically lost his three friends and both his legs below the knee in a road crash when he was just 17 years old.  

“I was a similar age to these students when my life changed forever,” he said. 

“I hope my story shows the importance of making safe, responsible decisions behind the wheel.” 

RAC bstreetsmart aims to reduce fatality and injury rates among young people on WA roads, a demographic who are overrepresented in crash statistics.  

With up to 15 per cent of road accident deaths preventable with timely first aid, SJWA Chief Preventative Officer Megs O’Donnell said it was important young drivers empowered themselves with the basics.  

“Out on WA roads, first aid skills can absolutely save a life,” she said. 

“St John WA has long advocated for first aid education to be made available to people going through the process of attaining their licence, and has launched a free online 15-minute First Aid For Me course to support this. 

“Having the confidence to step up and be a first responder on WA roads while an ambulance is on the way is immensely important, both for the confidence of drivers, the patients they provide aid to, and the ambulance crews who respond to the road crash. 

“St John WA is incredibly proud to continue supporting RAC bstreetsmart which shows how any driver can learn the skills and confidence to be a first responder and potentially save a life.” 

St John WA’s First Aid for New Drivers course is designed to teach the skills new drivers need to navigate emergencies on the road.  

Complete the free 15-minute course here.