As a community, we have all asked ourselves how we can best ensure that no more young lives are tragically lost on Singleton’s roads.

Yes, improvements to our roads are needed.

But, just as importantly, how do we instil in young drivers that driving to the conditions, heeding advice about the dangers of driver fatigue and, last and by no means least, obeying the road rules, saves lives?

Nationally, young drivers (17- 25 years) represent one-quarter of all Australian road deaths, but are only 10-15 per cent of the licenced driver population.

A 17-year-old driver with a P1 licence is four times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a driver over the age of 26.

The biggest killer of young drivers is speeding and about 80 per cent of those killed are male.

Keen to do something about improving teenagers’ driver education, the Rotary Club of Singleton has taken the initiative and, for a number of years, the club held a driver workshop called the RYDA program at the Singleton Showground.

But now the programs will take place at Tocal Agricultural College at Paterson where the Singleton club has joined forces with the Rutherford Telarah Rotary Club to construct a purpose driver training course.

According to their website, RYDA is a series of practical and powerful workshops that aim to change the way young people think about road safety. 

As part of an interactive one-day event, students experience braking at different speeds, devise travel strategies that will work for them in the real world and get tips from road safety experts on how to protect themselves, their friends and family.

Perhaps the most impactful moments come from the personal stories of loss and survival.

In one session, students watch a powerful and emotional video on the life and tragic death of an 18-year-old provisional driver and her best friend.

And, in another, they sit with a crash survivor and hear first-hand how one poor choice can change a life forever. 

Rotary Club of Singleton RYDA coordinator  Ted Drayton said the program was particularly relevant at this point in time as there had been three fatal vehicular accidents in the Singleton district, resulting in the deaths of six people, with five of them being local drivers 19 years of age or younger, some of whom have attended Singleton High School. 

The club has organised a one-day RYDA program for Singleton students for the past four years and the program targets 15-to-17 year-old school students who are about to or have just started driving a motor vehicle, he said.

“We have had discussions with Singleton High School and, in light of these recent tragic events, the school is keen to have their Year 10 students attend a RYDA program as soon as practical,” Mr Drayton said.

The school has indicated that there would be about 200 students ready to attend the initiative, and if they can keep the costs down to a minimum, they will make attendance compulsory for all Year 10 pupils.

“To this end we have organised for the Singleton students to attend a one-day program at Tocal today, but the hiring of four buses to transport the students is a major cost that may prevent some students from participating,” he said.

“Bulga Coal has offered to contribute part of the bus costs and both the Rotary Club of Singleton and Rotary Club of Singleton on Hunter will share the balance of the costs, which means that all the Year 10 students will be able to attend the program.

“This is a good example of both local Rotary clubs and Bulga Coal working together to educate and equip young drivers with the knowledge they need to stay safe on the roads.”