Australia and New Zealand’s leading road safety education program, RYDA, celebrates its 21st anniversary in Australia this year, and its sixteenth in New Zealand.
The flagship Road Safety Education Limited (RSE) program has positively impacted the lives of around 725,000 Australian and New Zealanders since its inception.
CEO and Managing Director of Road Safety Education Limited, Terry Birss, says the contribution of the RYDA program to society has been undeniable.
“We’re proud of the significant difference the RYDA program has made to the safety of young drivers on our roads over the past 21 years through the empowerment of young drivers and passengers,” Birss said.
“Our original cohort of RYDA participants are now in their mid-to-late 30s and I have no doubt that our focus on education through behavioural change and a focus on young driver and passenger attitudes has played a role in reducing road trauma.
“I’m delighted with the growth of the RYDA program and the reputation that it continues to build on over its 21 years.”
Figures from the International Transport Forum’s Road Safety Report 2021 for Australia show a reduction of fatalities on Australian roads of nearly 40 per cent over the last 20 years, despite 60 per cent more registered vehicles on the road.
However, the number of cyclists killed on our roads has increased over the same time, highlighting the continued need for young driver education.
“While there is so much to celebrate in this milestone, it’s also evident that there is still a long way to go to create safer roads for all road users,” said Birss.
“Programs like RYDA challenge the mindset and behaviours of motorists and give them the tools they need to face the challenges on the road. This is key to achieving the long-term goals in a sustainable manner that will not only impact today’s road users but future ones as well.”
As part of the RYDA program, students participate in a workshop which features sessions led by expert facilitators who address laws, distractions, risk management, social resilience, speed and stopping, mind state, impairment, vehicle safety and other critical road safety topics.
The program targets school participation via a dedicated RYDA workshop day supported by a series of resources that are designed to be integrated into the regular curriculum both before and after the workshop.
RYDA claims it typically sees 45,000 students a year across more than 350 workshop days run throughout Australia and New Zealand, involving more than 650 schools.
RYDA workshops are supported throughout Australia by a dedicated team of volunteers primarily RSE’s community partner, Rotary, and by corporate partners including BOC, Toyota, Bridgestone and Boral.
Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay, congratulated RYDA on the milestone.
“As a proud partner of the RYDA program, we’re thrilled to join Road Safety Education Limited in celebrating this iconic milestone,” he said.
“Since first partnering with RYDA in 2016, we understood the incredible difference this program makes to the lives of young motorists and passengers. Our commitment has been unwavering because of the dedication RYDA has to achieve its objectives, and contributing to the goal of preventing road trauma.”
