DRIVER safety is something some teenage drivers may have a complacent attitude towards.
The Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program was out to change that this week for hundreds of students from the region.
The RYDA program targets young people as they enter the stage in their lives where they start to drive or ride in cars driven by their peers.
The program was run over three days at the Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre and was attended by high school students from Leeton, Narrandera, Hay, Griffith, Barellan, Hillston, Ariah Park, Lake Cargelligo and Tullibigeal.
Leeton and Griffith area RYDA chairman Sandra Robinson was hopeful education would be the key for students learning more about driver safety.
"By coming here and participating we hope to instil in the students better driving practices to prevent them from having an accident," she said.
"It's a good hands-on approach and one students benefit from.
"This is the most students we've had and we look forward to again offering the program next year."
More than 75,000 students have been through the RYDA program nationally.
The one-day program covers a broad range of topics, including hazard perception, safe stopping distances, insurance and tips for buying a car.
All of the topics are aimed at influencing the attitude of young people before they get behind the wheel of a car.
Mrs Robinson said students responded well to the program.
"Every student fills in an evaluation sheet and the feedback we have had so far indicates the message is sinking in," she said.
"It's getting bigger every year.
"We would like to thank all of the volunteers and professionals that again gave their time this year to help with the program."
Crash victim offers advice to young drivers
TAKING life for granted is something John McWilliam has learned the hard way not to do.
Mr McWilliam was involved in a serious single-vehicle accident when he was 18, which resulted in a traumatic brain injury.
Now 29, Mr McWilliam is still recovering from the accident and is determined for no one else to go through what he did.
For the third year, Mr McWilliam has taken part in the accident survivor talk as part of the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) program, held at the Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre this week.
Before his accident Mr McWilliam was a third-year apprentice diesel mechanic.
"I was driving 56kmh along a dirt road that was wet and slippery before I hit a tree and the toolbox in the back of my ute came through the back window and hit me in the head," he said.
"It has been a long recovery and I'm still recovering every hour of every day really.
"I wanted to do these talks because I'm sick of turning the television on every night to see another young person has lost their life in a car accident.
"I don't like seeing it and I really feel for their families."
Mr McWilliam spent more than six months in a rehabilitation centre in Albury following his accident.
"I've attempted to go back to work as a diesel mechanic, but it was like I had two left feet at the end of my arms where my hands were meant to be," he said.
"I have no memories of my life before the accident so I just want to get that message out there that getting behind the wheel of a car can be a dangerous thing.
"It is important to always be mindful on the road to prevent accidents such as mine from happening."
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