Community - RYDA

Community Service - RYDA

RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) aka  U-Turn the Wheel.('You Turn the Wheel')      ---     Rotary District 9685 RYDA page - RYDA

RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) AKA 'You Turn the Wheel'

The Youth Driver Awareness Project seeks to change the attitude of young people to their responsibilities when driving or riding in a vehicle so that deaths and injury on our roads will be substantially reduced over the next generation. It aims to provide Year 11 students access to Road Safety resources (e.g. RTA rollover car, large scale demonstrations and displays) and a forum for parents and teachers to discuss road safety issues. This programme was first piloted in March 2001. Our aim is to establish a positive, responsible attitude to driving, so that we can hopefully substantially reduce the number of accidents and injuries on our roads.

A day is spent learning about safety, insurance, health, driver awareness of speed and its dangers, how to celebrate without risking yours or anyone elses life. Local police are asked to give a talk, about the law relating to driver offences. At the meeting I attended a very interesting gentleman told of how he was lucky to be alive, having been hit by a car, he was a cyclist, who now wears a titanium plate in his head, had his ear sown back on and various other injuries fixed. This man was incredibly lucky, his father was a brain surgeon. He was the most inspiring guest speaker I have ever listened to and by the silence in the room the year 11 students were also awe struck.

Rotarians are asked to give of their time to take a group of students around to the various classes which they will attend, keeping the group together and making sure they know where they are going if they should leave the main group for any reason such as going to the bathroom. There is a small cost to the students for the travel from their school to the driver awareness facility. Students take their own lunch.

I urge any Rotarians who have not been involved in this programme to give it a go.

We have had confirmation that Pymble Ladies College has joined the scheme and will be having their first day on the 10th November. This is a great opportunity for members or their partners to enlist their help on the day, and to gain valuable insight into things we take for granted each day as we drive.

In 2007-2008 St Ives high school and Brigidine College went through this program.

In 2005 and 2006 St Ives High, Brigidine College and Pymble Ladies College attended this program . Rotarians from the club are enthusiastic to assist this program.