Australia's largest road safety event, bstreetsmart, is marking 20 years of helping educate young road users about the responsibilities and potential risks of getting behind the wheel.
Almost 25,000 students aged from 16 to 18 years old will participate in an immersive education day at Sydney Olympic Park, from August 20-22.
Founded in 2004 by Westmead Hospital trauma nurses Julie Seggie and Stephanie Wilson, bstreetsmart includes testimonials and real-life simulated crash scenarios, which aim to reduce fatalities and injuries as a result of road accidents.
In 2023, young adults aged between 17–25 years old represented just 13 percent of all licence holders but accounted for 19 percent of all drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes.
In its inaugural year, bstreetsmart hosted 10 schools and was attended by 464 students. Two decades on, more than 227,000 NSW high school students have attended bstreetsmart, many recalling the lasting impact of the event, which is updated each year based on trends and issues observed in hospital emergency departments.
Transport for NSW has supported the event since 2015 and is contributing $300,000 to this year's program.
For more information, visit bstreetsmart
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads John Graham:
“Learning to drive is an exciting time for young people and bstreetsmart is a great way for new drivers to learn about the responsibilities that come with getting behind the wheel.
“This event helps drive home the message that there can be life-altering impacts for decisions made while driving."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
“bstreetsmart aims to prevent or reduce the deaths and devastating injuries that our healthcare system sadly sees on a regular basis."
“By helping educate young drivers on the severe consequences of road trauma, we hope to see fewer young people in road crashes and ultimately, save lives."
“Students and teachers learn about road trauma through simulated crash scenarios, interactive displays, theatre sports performances, powerful presentations from survivors, and personal accounts from family members of people killed in crashes."
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Police, Yasmin Catley:
“Learning to drive is an exciting time for young people, and this initiative will teach our young drivers just how dangerous our roads can be."
“Young people make up a huge percentage of drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes on our roads, and it isn't enough for just the police to keep them in check."
"This program will help young people take responsibility for their actions, hold each other accountable, and set a good example when they're behind the wheel."
Quotes attributable to the Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis:
"This event is an innovative and relatable way of demonstrating to our new drivers the responsibilities that come with driving."
"As we celebrate 20 years of this important program, its impact continues to grow, thanks to the vision of two trauma nurses from Westmead Hospital who made it their purpose to get these powerful safety messages through to young people."
Quotes attributable to Westmead Hospital Trauma Nurse, Julie Seggie:
“Driver distractions such as mobile phones, conversations, and loud music play a large role in many of the incidents we see in the emergency department. As nurses, and for many of us, as parents, we wanted to find a way to prevent death and the often-devastating injuries that occur as a result of road crashes."
“Teaching prevention in any field of health is challenging, particularly when it comes to teenagers! What has highlighted the impact we have had with this event, is when we have met young adults who attended as students, and who talk to us about how bstreetsmart influenced them and their friends."
“It is an amazing accomplishment to have an event run for 20 years. The dedication and determination of a select group of trauma nurses, doctors, and in particular Dr Ken Harrison, Westmead Staff Specialist, has been crucial to our success."