One more lesson for the road

By Nathan Johnston
STUDENTS at Noble Park Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES), many of whom have recently immigrated to Australia, received a lesson in vital road safety skills last week.
Many students are considering obtaining a learner driver’s permit, and received the same message that secondary school students poised to get behind the wheel for the first time get.
RoadSafe brought its road safety program Fit to Drive to the centre to highlight the dangers that come with driving, program coordinator Dreena Lawrence said.
“The aim is to raise their awareness of the risks and factors that contribute to road crashes and, in doing so, teach them to be safer drivers and passengers,” Ms Lawrence said.
The program is supported by the City of Casey, Cardinia Shire, the City of Greater Dandenong, VicRoads, Victoria Police and the CFA.
Local firefighters and police visited the school to speak about the dangers of excessive speed and the consequences of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
They also explained the trauma suffered by all parties involved in road accidents, and the long rehabilitation process many crash survivors have to deal with.
The forum also included a demonstration from firefighters about how they extract victims trapped from inside a severely damaged car.