BStreetSmart Excursion
All Year 10 students attended the Be Street Smart excursion on Wednesday 21st August at Qudos Bank Arena. This excursion focused on road safety and educating young people about the importance of being safe road users and included a real-life simulated crash scene. This valuable learning experience aligns with our unit of study this term on road safety, titled ‘Arrive alive’ as part of our PDHPE curriculum.
It was an incredibly eye-opening experience designed to educate students about staying safe on the road and expose them to a multitude of potential risks often overlooked in our day-to-day lives. From learning about situational awareness to understanding how to navigate unfamiliar contexts, the excursion provided valuable knowledge to enhance student safety but also left a lasting impression about how to stay safe and be prepared for any situation on the road as a passenger, pedestrian or driver.
A huge takeaway from this experience was listening to the detrimental impact that poor decision-making on the road had on people's lives from those willing to tell their stories about how being dangerous on the road led to a significant change in their lives. Students heard from speakers who are living with a brain injury and others who were left in a wheelchair as the result of people drinking and/or drug driving. They also heard from the perspective of a mother who lost her 17-year-old son after he chose to drive under the influence and killed 4 other people. We then watched an experiment conducted by a driving school demonstrating the impact of going only 10km over the speed limit and the impact various stopping distances have when braking (40kms compared to 50kms, 60kms and 80kms). This was a harsh reality check and reminder about the consequences of being dangerous on the road. We hope this experience has encouraged students to think before making decisions when driving or being a passenger as they learn to drive and work towards their provisional licence.
Thank you to Jolena and Amyllia of year 10 for their reflections below on the day.
Jolena:
Attending BStreetSmart was a memorable experience, and its lessons have already influenced how I approach road safety as a passenger and a future driver. I was particularly struck by the personal experiences shared by the speakers. Listening to real-life stories highlighted the critical importance of abiding by road rules and avoiding distractions while driving. It became clear that safe driving is not only about protecting yourself; car accidents can have long term effects on passengers, family, friends and even first responders. I was surprised to learn how much time, care, and safety measures EMTs, firefighters, and police invest when responding to a car accident.This experience emphasised that being a responsible driver means considering the safety and wellbeing of everyone on the road, not just your own.
Amy:
Attending BStreetSmart was an eye opening and powerfully moving experience. Witnessing a realistic car crash reenactment and observing the rescue process made the dangers of risky driving very real. The most powerful moments came from the speakers who shared deeply personal stories, marked by loss, pain, and the long road to recovery. Their words carried a heavy truth; that every choice behind the wheel holds immense responsibility, and safety can never be taken for granted. In particular, Melissa McGuinness’s story about her son, whose actions claimed the lives of four innocent people, left a lasting impression. Her message was clear. It doesn’t matter what your intention is, if the choices you make hurt people. Hearing her speak, and seeing how sudden and devastating road accidents can be, made me more conscious of my own habits. I know I will carry the lessons from BStreetSmart with me, especially when the time comes for me to hold a driver’s licence.
Mrs Kayla Brogan
Leader of Learning- PDHPE