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Holly Scott is still recovering from the life-threatening injuries she sustained in a car crash five years ago when aged 22 – but she is sharing her story with thousands of strangers this week in an effort to reduce road trauma.
More than 7500 students from 70 schools at RAA’s Street Smart High, held today and yesterday at the Entertainment centre, heard Holly’s harrowing presentation and saw vision of her rehabilitation.
Holly was one of 1394 people aged 17-24 who were seriously injured in road crashes in this state during the past decade.
“Doctors didn’t know if I would survive my first night in hospital,’’ she said.
“If I can get through to just one student at this event how serious and how quickly your life can change from a car crash – that’s all I want,’’ she said.
RAA’s Street Smart High – the state’s largest youth road safety event – is an annual event which has been held since 2009 at the Entertainment Centre and is supported by Think! Road Safety.
More than 75,000 thousand year 10-12 students from schools across South Australia have attended in that time.
The event aims to reduce road trauma through developing positive road safety knowledge, skills and attitudes amongst our next generation of road users.
The four-hour program includes a simulated crash scene, real life stories from people whose lives have been affected by road trauma, and a demonstration on the importance of ANCAP star ratings when choosing a car.
RAA Community and Corporate Affairs General Manager Emily Perry said it was extremely important to educate novice drivers about the risks and dangers they faced when in a car or on a motorcycle.
“Tragically, each year on average during the past decade 157 young people are seriously injured or killed on SA roads,’’ Ms Perry said.
“At Street Smart High, students will witness a realistic simulated crash scene that includes a pre-and-post-crash analysis.
“After attending Street Smart High, around 90 per cent of students who have attended past events reported they improved their road safety knowledge and skills.
“It also changes behaviour, with 89 per cent of students attending the event indicating they would pay more attention when driving, be more careful on the road and know what to do if they witness or are involved in a crash.’’
Other presenters at the event this year included parents Peter and Melissa McGuinness, who founded YOU CHOOSE after their son, Jordan who caused the deaths of four innocent young people in a car crash in which he also died in Queensland in 2012. He was speeding and under the influence of alcohol and marijuana.
State Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs also spoke at the event and shared his road safety advice with the teenagers.
For more information about the event visit raa.com.au/streetsmarthigh.