Mossman students get lifesaving lesson

Mossman State High School students have been given an important lesson in road safety that may just save their lives.

Local firies, led by Mossman Auxiliary Lieutenant Andrew Petrack recently ran a program at the school called Roads Attitudes and Action Planning (RAAP) for year 11 students who are in the midst of getting their licences.

“We are educating students to try and change their attitudes towards planning ahead and driving on our roads by showing them what can happen when they make bad choices on the road,” Mr Petrack said.

The 90-minute lesson involved shocking statistics, emotional videos, and classroom interaction with local firies who have witnessed the aftermath of far too many car crashes.

“It's not just the drivers we focus on, but importantly we also focus on the passengers, giving them the knowledge and the tools to speak up when they are in a passenger situation and encourage the driver to make safer choices.

“We also focus on planning ahead. Planning their safest way to get home from a party or going out.

“Overall, it’s about giving them the skills and knowledge to be able to speak up to avoid a bad situation.”

The program is run by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and is held in schools across Far North Queensland once a year with Mr Petrack coordinating the program from Mossman to the tip of Cape York.

With three serious crashes in Mossman in just an eight-day period last month, Mr Petrack said it is so important to get the message across to young drivers.

“There is an over-representation of fatalities and injuries on our roads from drivers aged 17 to 24 years. Unfortunately, approximately 25 to 30 per cent of fatalities are from this age group.

“Our ongoing aim is to educate young drivers and passengers about their responsibilities to themselves, passengers, and other people on our roads, and to think about their actions and the consequences that follow a bad choice.

“The consequences are life-changing.”