NSW government has pledged $1 million to fund a graphically bloody and violent road crash simulation aimed at shocking young people into safe driving.

Road safety program a shocker
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=71220&vf=26
AAP, June 21, 2011





The NSW government has pledged $1 million to fund a graphically bloody and violent road crash simulation aimed at shocking young people into safe driving.

The NSW government has committed $1 million to fund a road safety forum which includes material so bloody and violent that some young viewers have required counselling after seeing it.

Premier Barry O'Farrell was at Sydney's Acer Arena on Tuesday to open the Australian Youth and Road Trauma Forum.

Thousands of high school students from across NSW and the ACT witnessed a confronting reconstruction on the arena floor of the aftermath of a violent car crash.

The reconstructed car crash featured a vehicle which had slammed into a power pole, with one of the young occupants, played by actors, lying in a pool of blood after apparently being flung from the car.

A "dead" motorbike rider lay nearby while a second occupant of the car slumped bloody and injured in the front seat as the driver frantically tried to save him.

They also watched videos of young car crash survivors recounting their experiences.

The shock tactics are a key part of the three-day program, which is designed to hammer home road safety messages to children before they gain their P-plates.

Mr O'Farrell announced the government was committing $1 million to fund the forum for the next four years.

"It's incredibly important ... the doctors, nurses and others involved in this program at Westmead (Hospital) say that 28 per cent of people that come in from motor accidents are aged under 26," Mr O'Farrell told reporters.

"They're tired of putting people back together again and would like to ensure that young people going for their licences understand the importance of driving safely 24/7."

He admitted previous forums had left children requiring counselling.

"I watched this program two years ago, I saw how graphic it was, I saw the impact it had upon many students, some of whom required counselling at the end of it."

He defended the graphic nature of the show.

"But if that's what it takes to make our young drivers safer on the roads, then I say all power to those who organise this program."