The 2016 Bathurst and District Rotary Youth Awareness ROAR Safety Education event will be held at the Pit Complex at Mount Panorama from February 22 to 26.

Year 11 students from high schools in Bathurst and the wider district have been invited to attend.

Brian Burke, who co-ordinates the program, said Road Safety Education Ltd. was the pre-eminent provider of road safety education for youth in Australia and New Zealand.

“The flagship RYDA program is delivered to over 50,000 Year 11 students at over 90 venues,” he said.

Mr Burke said by participating in the program schools further their commitment to educating the “whole student”, providing them with an opportunity to learn essential driving skills.

“Students are encouraged to attend and learn how to take greater responsibility for themselves and their friends before they face the challenge of driving solo or as a passenger of a new driver,” Mr Burke said.

He thanked Bathurst Regional Council for its  generosity in allowing the program to be conducted at the Mount Panorama Pits Complex, which he said was an ideal site to highlight crucial road safety messages.

Mr Burke said the program focused on the government’s five significant road safety issues: speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, seatbelts and distractions as well as the importance of driving as a social responsibility.

For more information go to rse.org.au/ryda