Learning to drive comes with excitement, nerves, challenge, independence and plenty of risk.

Young drivers are more likely to have a crash in the first six months after gaining their restricted licence than at any other time. That’s why Year 12 students (those aged 16 and 17) are the ideal group to undertake road safety education.

Road Safety Education Limited works with schools nationwide to deliver a comprehensive education programme called ‘RYDA’ which is designed to save lives and prevent serious injury.

Here in the Bay of Plenty, over 2400 students will participate in RYDA this year, giving them the tools they need to better assess risk and make good choices on the road.

RYDA Programme Manager Naomh Cusin says there are many people (including parents) doing a great job of teaching teenagers how to drive. “But there’s nobody else in New Zealand doing what we’re doing. We focus on the cognitive side of driving and how to lower their risk. And it’s not just aimed at drivers. It’s also aimed at passengers and other road users. When a young driver has their peers in the car, their chances of crashing quadruple. Hence drivers are not allowed to have passengers in their car while on a restricted licence.”

Essential skills

The RYDA programme includes a day-long workshop where students participate in six engaging sessions. Each 30 minute session features a mix of videos, interactive discussions and quizzes.

The Speed & Stopping session looks at the relationship between speed and stopping distances and the need to keep a safe following gap. Drive SOS (which stands for So Others Survive) looks at things from the perspective of other road users, while Crash Investigators tasks students with interviewing a person who has lived through a crash.

“Prior to that they learn that crash investigators look at the road, the road user, the conditions, the vehicle and speed. So their questions to the crash survivor are centred around that.

“Listening to a person with lived experience tell their story has a big impact on people. It’s relatable. We never script it, but our crash survivors will always say they never thought it was going to happen to them. And a number of our crash survivors have been passengers as well, so students really take that on board.”

Rather than scaring students and leaving them feeling worried about driving, the sessions are designed to teach positive lessons. “We want them to feel more empowered.”

The I in Drive session helps students think about their own personality and how that might impact their driving. “We look at whether you’re a risk taker or not, and talk about what to do if you’re sitting in a car as a passenger and feeling unsafe.”

Local police often deliver the Road Choices session to discuss the legal and financial ramifications of poor road choices, while the final Mind Matters session looks at the role emotions, distractions and fatigue can play.

“We try and help them come up with strategies themselves on how they can manage all of these issues.”

Schools are also provided with pre- and post-workshop resources which engage teachers, students and the wider community to help create a culture of road safety.

By delivering RYDA to an entire Year 12 cohort, whether they are driving yet or not, ensures students aren’t singled out but learn alongside their peers. “For many of them, it will be the only road safety education they receive,” Naomh says.

Affordable for all

RYDA was first introduced in Tauranga in 2008, with just two schools participating. Taupo schools came on board in 2009, followed by Rotorua in 2023. This year, at least 12 schools around the Bay of Plenty will benefit, thanks in part to a $6000 grant from BayTrust.

The money (along with other community funding grants and corporate sponsorship), substantially lowers the cost of RYDA so it’s affordable for schools to enroll their students.

“We are absolutely thrilled because, particularly in today's funding environment, there’s no guarantees. There’s lots of deserving organisations who need help and support so we’re very appreciative. It’s exciting to have our work validated as well. Receiving this grant tells us that BayTrust believes in our mission and they’re willing to invest in young people in this area so we’re really pleased.”