A MOVING vehicle is as dangerous as any weapon, according to police.
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That is the message young high school students from across the region were told this week during the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) sessions at Yanco Agricultural High School.
Held annually, the students, many who will be eligible to gain their learner licence this year, were informed of the many dangers involved when getting behind the wheel.
Over 3000 students have attended the RYDA events held every year in Leeton shire since 2008.
This year close to 500 students will have attended the program by the end of the week.
They have come from across the Riverina, including Leeton, Narrandera, Hay, Ardlethan, Ariah Park, Griffith, Lockhart and Oaklands.
Among those were Griffith High’s Taylah Krause, 14, and Khloe Favero, 15.
“Most of it is things we haven’t learned before,” Khloe said.
“I think it’s really helpful. We need to have a fair idea of what we’re in for (when we get our licence) and it’s important to know all of that.
“We’ve been talking about a lot of things today that we weren’t aware of before.”
RYDA takes each student one school day to complete and is recognised within the school curriculum.
The program attempts to influence attitudes and behaviours of both drivers and passengers before they get their licence.
Sessions include learning about safe driving distances, stopping and braking and the impacts speeding can have on this.
Students also heard from a car crash survivor – Jon McWilliam – who shared his story and why it was important to continually be paying attention when driving.
Every year RYDA is co-ordinated by Leeton’s two Rotary clubs, as well as Leeton Sire Council.
Council’s road safety and traffic officer Stephanie Puntoriero said students continually commented about how much they were taking away from the event.
“The kids always feel comfortable in asking questions of the police and the speakers that we have here,” she said.
“They pick up a lot of tips and hear a lot of stories.
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“The braking and stopping distances really amazes them every year. Those demonstrations really show just how easily an accident can happen.
“We want to make them aware they are in control of the choices they make when they are driving.”
Targeted mostly at year 11 and 12 students, Mrs Puntoriero said volunteers from Rotary also picked up tips when hearing from the presenters, especially when it came to new rules and regulations.