The students heard from police officers, first responders and individuals who had experienced the devastating impact of road trauma firsthand.
Sergeant Mick Savage from Rutherglen Police, Sergeant Tony Chamberlain from Wodonga Highway Patrol and Sergeant Steve Marshall from Corowa Police addressed the students.
Sgt Marshall told the Corowa and Rutherglen High students how police no longer referred to crashes as accidents.
“There is always a reason why a crash occurs, and we went through a large list of reasons,” Sgt Marshall said.
Distraction was the big one, whether by mobile phones or passengers in the vehicle.
Students viewed a video, which gave clear advice on breaking distances and distances between vehicles when travelling.
The video showed the importance of the ‘two second gap’ and what happened when it was not adhered to.
Resident Vicki Richardson spoke to students about texting and driving after the loss of her daughter.
Dale Preston from Corowa Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) spoke about being involved in a crash and deciding he wanted to give back by joining the VRA, where he is now deputy captain.
Federation Council, in collaboration with Victorian Police, Rutherglen Neighbourhood Watch, NSW Police, Don’t-txt-n-drive, Corowa High School, Indigo Shire Council’s L2P program, and Rutherglen High School, successfully hosted the annual program.
The cross-border initiative, running since 2011, resonates strongly with young people, with an 85 per cent approval rating from students.
Federation Council Mayor Cheryl Cook said the program provided a powerful platform for students to hear directly from those who have witnessed or experienced the tragic realities of road trauma.
Afterwards, students said they understood that road trauma could affect anyone and the importance of considering the consequences of their actions before driving.
“These stories are not just statistics; they are real lives impacted, and they serve as a stark reminder that road safety is everyone’s responsibility,” Cr Cook said.
“The feedback clearly demonstrates Cool Heads program is making a real difference in educating and empowering young drivers to make safer choices.
“This program is a vital investment in the safety of our community's young people.”
Organisers expressed their gratitude to Club Corowa for hosting the event for the second consecutive year.
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