Australian Road Safety Foundation transforms road safety education with innovative online tool
With the support of the Federal Government, the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) has today launched a new road safety initiative, designed to deliver a new standard of road safety education for young people prior to obtaining a learner’s permit.
RoadSet is a free online interactive learning experience and education tool aimed at Year 9 students, designed to help young people become better road users – making Australian roads safer for everyone.
Driven by the ARSF with funding provided by the Australian Government, RoadSet combines original animation with gamified interactions to deliver immersive, engaging content across 10 easy-to-digest modules, which are supported by additional curriculum-aligned teaching and learning resources.
ARSF founder and CEO Russell White said the Progressive Web App was an important innovation that will provide a national approach in age appropriate road safety education and is a first step in moving towards a more holistic learning platform for the next generation of road users. It will provide a framework for earlier road user education that will help young people be better and safer road users.
“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,” Mr White said.
“In fact, road trauma is the biggest killer of Australian children aged between one and 14 and to change these tragic statistics, we need to address road safety in a new way.
“Our innovative approach is designed to increase road safety awareness skills in young Australians and highlight strategies to help prevent crashes and reduce road trauma. In this way, we are adding a layer of education to foster greater understanding and better behaviour that will save lives.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said road safety is of vital importance to each and every Australian.
“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.”
RoadSet can be easily integrated into the Australian Curriculum’s Health and Physical Education learning area or can be run as a separate wellbeing or road safety education program.
Leading road safety advocate Mr White said reducing road trauma was ultimately a community issue.
“That’s why, in addition to schools, we’ve made RoadSet available to the wider community,” he said.
“Youth-based groups and other organisations can access the RoadSet program, along with all accompanying teaching and learning resources, free of charge.”
Adolescent Success executive officer Angela White said RoadSet empowers teenagers to take ownership of their own behaviour.
“Getting teenagers to pay attention to road safety messages can be a challenge. RoadSet’s approach is refreshingly different and talks to students on their level,” she said.
Students and other individual users can download the free RoadSet program by visiting www.roadset.com.au on any device.
Teachers and community educators can access supporting learning materials by visiting the teacher resources page on the RoadSet website.
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