Young driver education program is a RAAP
Thu 14 September 2006
Jenny Hammer, Journalism
The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) is educating young drivers with its accident awareness program in the hope of reducing the escalating road toll.
With 30 per cent of road deaths in Queensland happening to young drivers between 17 and 24, the QFRS realised an awareness program needed to be developed in order to educate young people.
Known as the Road Accident Awareness Program (RAAP) Queensland firefighters head to schools to speak in depth with year 12 students about the importance of road safety.
Since RAAP began in 1998, over 22,000 Year 12 students have seen experienced firefighters deliver the innovative program, which is designed to help reduce the number of young people killed and injured in road accidents.
John Karas, a firefighter from Buderim Fire Station, says the program is well received from students and teachers alike.
“RAAP gives young drivers a realistic, first hand insight into what happens to road accident victims and the aftermath from deaths and injuries,” Mr Karas said. 
Firefighters conducting the program enter schools along with representatives from the police and ambulance service to deliver detailed scenarios relating to road deaths.
Mr Karas says police and ambulance officers are an integral part of the program and their presence often brings out disturbing emotions from students.
“We often see students in tears as a result of hearing what really happens when we are called to a road fatality. And as painful as that may be for them, it is far more painful for the friends and family of someone killed as a direct result of road carelessness,” Mr Karas said.
A driver’s license, in the eyes of young people is a ticket to freedom. Yet this ticket also carries with it a huge responsibility, as the car can be a lethal weapon for a young inexperienced.
The program has been extremely successful so far with many students having taken notice of the message firefighters are trying to send them.
Almost 300 students were surveyed recently, 90 per cent said that their attitudes as drivers and passengers had improved as a result of being involved in RAAP.
Half of the students who had seen RAAP said they would not speed or drive after drinking, and over 70 per cent said they would not get into a car with someone who had been drinking.
RAAP sees firefighters give a practical demonstration of road accident rescue equipment such as the ‘jaws of life’.
Students are also taken through the process firefighters, police and ambulance officers go through after they have been called to a road fatality.
“This classroom presentation is often very confronting for students, yet our program is continually proving to be a valuable lesson for our young people,” Mr Karas said.
Image(s) designed by Jenny Hammer/www.sxc.hu