Initially offered in Auckland, Northland and Franklin District in 2008, RYDA is rolling out the Programme progressively offering it nationally where there is a clear need.

What is the programme?
The Programme targets “awareness” and “attitudinal change” and seeks to encourage young people, generally year 11 students, who are on the verge of driving or are actively thinking about it, to take a more responsible attitude to motoring. The inclusion of passenger empowerment (and not driver strategies alone) is an example of the broad approach to the course content. Comprising six sessions, it is a one-day event held at a non-school site and followed up in a variety of ways to enhance retention of key messages.

RYDA co-ordinates the efforts of local road safety experts, driving instructors, the Police, recovering victims of road crashes and drug & alcohol educators in such a way that students are made aware of the privilege, cost and responsibilities of owning and driving a motor vehicle.

Schools can often find it difficult to assemble a community of experts to deliver the schools’ road safety curriculum. The RYDA Programme assists schools meet that requirement with a view to forming part of the continuum of road safety education in our schools.


Best Practice
RYDA is committed to maintaining the Programme at the forefront of road safety development. In 2005, RYDA in Australia undertook the largest research into programs of this kind, headed by Dr Jane Elkington, a leading road safety researcher. The cost was fully funded by NSW Government.

 

What does the programme contain?
Students are rotated through 6 sessions in the day as follows:

Core topics:

  • Stopping Distances
  • Hazards Distractions and Risk
  • Plan B
  • Police
  • Crash Survivor
  • My Wheels

Continuity is crucial!
15 to 19 year old drivers make up just seven percent of licensed car drivers, yet in 2008 this group accounted for:

  • 15 percent of serious injury crashes, and
  • 14 percent of those involved in fatal crashes.'

Source: LTNZ

The fact that our young people are over-represented in the road crash statistics is a community problem. RYDA seeks to be part of a community solution by encouraging all organisations having a responsibility for and/or an interest in, the safety of our youth, to partner with Rotary.

The RYDA Programme is particularly cost effective. Rotary provides many hours of volunteer labour whilst encouraging participation from other sectors, primarily governments and the business and philanthropic community.

Government agencies and councils play their part in the provision of support including access to the knowledge based resources of Government, for example, Ministry of Education, Land Transport New Zealand and the NZ Police. The business community has also shown its willingness to play its part in contributing to a community solution.

BOC and New Zealand Steel are principal co-sponsors of RYDA and they are combining with RYDA to offer the programme throughout New Zealand.

Other companies are also helping us - see our sponsors page.

The key to continuity? With all sectors of society working together, the burden will not fall too heavily on any one sector.


Get involved…. the person you save could be someone you love

 

Schools
The RYDA Programme was developed in NSW Australia, in conjunction with road safety researchers and two Government departments having prime responsibility for road safety and education - Roads and Traffic Authority and the Department of Education and Training.

The Programme is progressively reviewed to ensure compliance with the relevant laws and school curriculum in other States and Territories.
A similar process is underway in New Zealand.

Participating schools work with RYDA and local Rotary Clubs to arrange for 15 - 17 year old students to be transported to a venue (not more than 45 minutes bus journey from school) on an agreed day.

Students participate for one day from 9.30am to 2.30pm rotating through 6 sessions:

  • Police
  • Crash Survivor
  • Plan B
  • My Wheels
  • Hazards Distractions and Risk
  • Stopping Distances

The one-day event is followed up with competitions on this website and information to prolong retention of key messages.
During 2011 year some schools will be involved in a RYDA evaluationn that compares pre course to post course awareness as well as a 3 month follow up to assess retention of key messages.

A Venue Near You includes these;


  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Kerikeri – The Centre
  • Whangarei – Kensington Park
  • North Harbour – North Harbour Stadium
  • Auckland – Mt Smart Stadium
  • Manukau – TelstraClear Pacific Event Centre
  • Franklin District – Pukekohe Raceway
  • Horowhenua - Donnelly Park
  • Nelson - A&P Showgrounds
  • Christchurch – Air Training Corp