The social impacts of a road safety education program.

As well as targeting knowledge, skills and attitudes of young peoples’ road risks, road safety education programs can influence a wider circle of stakeholders and, if this occurs, support the broad range of community road safety measures._x000D_
_x000D_Around 50,000 senior high school students attend the RYDA program each year in Australia and New Zealand. During the recent RYDA revision process, data was collected on indirect impacts on road safety attitudes suggesting wider social value of the program. Stakeholders surveyed included teachers (n=180), parents (n=60), facilitators (n=118) and community volunteers (n=55). Survey responses were voluntary. Teachers were approached at programs while Rotary volunteers/facilitators were asked via email. Parents were contacted via schools.Questions focused on RYDA stakeholders’ sense of purpose, driving behaviour, and knowledge of road safety and any other outcomes that could contribute to the overall social value of the program._x000D_
_x000D_Findings are that stakeholders, to varying degrees, report personal satisfaction from helping young people stay safer, increased knowledge and awareness of road safety issues, and sharing of road safety knowledge and skills. Teachers report increased awareness of road safety issues (75%), personal satisfaction from helping learner drivers to be safer on the road (59%) and increased road safety knowledge and skills to share with family and friends (44%).Volunteers (93%) and facilitators (86%) reported personal satisfaction from helping learner drivers to be safer on the road. Parents reported feeling their child was safer on the road (44%) and that they have indirectly increased awareness of road safety issues (37%)._x000D_