Driving home the safety message

At universities in the West, road safety campaigns include driving simulators, testimonials and dramatised scenarios to drum in the message among the youth. Sara Saleh reports.

From driving instructors to parents and universities to transport agencies, everyone has a hand in volunteering time and resources to bring the message of safe driving practices to the community, and especially to those just joining the driving ranks - namely teenagers.

In Western countries such as the USA, England and Australia, dynamic outreach campaigns to educate teenagers draw attention to issues such as aggressive driving and road rage, distracted driving, driving while intoxicated, the use of safety systems as well as the proper use of backseat child seats.

To hook student interest

Such events normally held on university grounds usually include various animated displays and interactive activities such as booths, computer displays, driving simulators, a crashed car and other information on crashes and road safety.

Moreover, these high-energy programmes convey their message by blending expert testimonials and interviews with university students along with music, celebrity endorsements and dramatised scenarios.

Additionally, competitions and prize draws are also held to interest as many students, faculty and staff as possible.

Students are invited to attend multimedia seminars that present DVD presentations of teenagers killed and injured in multi-vehicle crashes. Surviving victims and their families describe the shattering impact that the accidents have had on their lives and families.

Emergency service responders such as emergency doctors, nurses, police officers, fire chiefs and forensic specialists also take part in the presentation by explaining how they are impacted time and again when dealing with the victims and their families.

These presentations are sometimes supported by a talk given by young injured crash survivors who candidly tell of the crash and how the impairing injury has affected his or her life.

Nifty tool kits are given out to students in hopes that online learning activities and interactive CD-ROMs will guide teenage drivers and shape new driving attitudes by taking them through reality- based driving and decision-making scenarios.

Additional helpful resources such as searchable CD-ROM databases and educational websites inform specific stakeholders - parents and driving instructors - how they can be a part of creating the most suitable learning environment for their children.

To this end, campaigns work to emphasise and reinforce the most fundamental yet crucial of safety messages such as:

- Paying attention to other drivers;

- Staying focused and avoiding distractions;

- Recognising threats and expecting the unexpected;

- And above all, coolly keeping your head on your shoulders no matter what.