MORE than 100 high school students from across the Limestone Coast took part in the annual Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program hosted by Lakes Rotary Club last week.
The program is delivered each year to over 50,000 senior high school students from more than 650 participating schools.
RYDA is a series of workshops for high school students that challenge them to change the way they think about road safety and lay the foundation for safe road use throughout their lives.
The program focuses on cognition development, building and increasing social competency and resilience and motivating low risk behaviour.
Students from Penola, Millicent, Grant and Naracoorte high schools, Naracoorte Independent Learning Centre, Casterton Secondary and St Martins Lutheran Colleges, Allendale East Area School and Millicent Community and Mount Gambier Independent learning centres all particpated in the full day event held at TafeSA on Friday.
St Martins Lutheran College Year 11 student Kerri Hunt said the event helped improve her confidence on the road.
“We have learnt about road awareness, how to make good decisions and how to keep everyone safe,” she said.
“I think it has definitely helped us all feel comfortable on the road – the instructors have been really helpful and have created an environment that put us at ease while still learning.
“Talking about the issues that can arise while driving will help me reflect and look back on what I have learnt when I am out driving myself.”
