New online safety course to help educate young road users

The government’s new, free online course is aimed at your kids to help keep them safe on the road and to turn around an alarming statistic.

The Federal Government is getting behind a new program to help educate youngsters before they get behind the wheel.

Called RoadSet, the program is aimed at year 9 students – most will be eligible to apply for a learner’s licence the following year.

The program is run by the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) and is funded by the Australian Government to the tune of $1.8m and will equip young people with the right tools to be safer road users.

The free online course covers topics such cyclist and skateboarder safety, pedestrian safety and how to be an overall good road user.

A new course will help make kids aware of road safety before they get behind the wheel.

With the aim of helping to develop the skills needed to be safer on the road when they eventually get their licence and when interacting with roads right now.

ARSF chief Russell White said the program will help save lives now and in the future.

“We need to remember that safety isn’t just about drivers, but about all road users, and that includes children on bikes, skateboards, scooters or simply walking on foot,” said Mr White.

“In fact, road trauma is the biggest killer of Australian kids aged between one and 14 and to change these tragic statistics, we need to address road safety in a new way.”

Young drivers are also over represented in the fatal crash statistics. In the past 12 months more than 220 young people between the ages of 17 and 25 have died on Australian roads according to the latest Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) data.

And this program could help kids learn vital safety lessons before getting behind the wheel themselves.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said this road safety tool is of vital importance to young Australians who will soon be learning to drive.

“The Federal Government is proud to support the Australian Road Safety Foundation’s RoadSet initiative, as it works hand-in-hand with the Department’s national road safety agenda,” Mr McCormack said.

“RoadSet transforms the way road safety education is delivered. The program takes students on an engaging, self-guided learning journey, helping them develop their road awareness skills across a range of conditions, environments and scenarios.”

The courses can be accessed at roadset.com.au.