Victorian students will start their journey to becoming safer drivers well before they hit the road following the opening of Victoria’s world-first road safety education complex.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan joined the Transport Accident Commission and Museums Victoria today to officially open the $55 million Road to Zero Education Complex at the Melbourne Museum.
“The earlier we can start a conversation around road safety – in classrooms, on-road or amongst friends and family, the better equipped young Victorians will be to drive safely,” he said.
“We know young people learn best when material is presented in an interactive and engaging way, and that’s exactly what this world leading centre will deliver.”
TAC research shows young drivers aged 18 to 25 accounted for 24 per cent of deaths on Victoria’s roads last year.
“In their first year of driving, young drivers in Victoria are almost four times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious injury crash than more experienced drivers,” TAC Chief Executive Officer Joe Calafiore said.
“That’s why it’s so important to teach safe driver behaviour, to all Victorians, at an early age.”
The complex will feature the latest in visual and digital technology to help students and the wider community understand their own vulnerability, the role of speed in crashes and the importance of safer vehicles.
Designed to ensure students don’t feel stuck in a classroom, interactive learning studios will allow students to complete practical tasks that link with their health and science curriculums.Students in years 9 and 10 will start visiting the Road to Zero in term four, with more than 20,000 students expected to flock to the complex in its first year.
Road to Zero is the cornerstone of the Andrews Labor Government’s $146 million Young Driver Safety Package which aims to reduce road trauma among young people and cement Victoria as a leader in road safety education.
The complex was developed by the Transport Accident Commission in partnership with Museums Victoria and was co-designed with road safety and teaching experts.
