Around 40 stakeholders (actors, their families and friends, emergency service personnel, Councillors and Council staff) attended this week's screening of the mock crash scenario video, as part of this year's NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program.
Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils' Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said the screening was the first time that the video has been seen publicly, before it is rolled out to the 11 local high schools in the coming weeks.
"There are a few tweaks that need to be made to the video, and we'll need final approvals from all of the emergency services and other agencies involved, but we are really happy with the finished product.
"After two years of COVID disruptions we decided to film this year's crash scenario instead of holding the live demonstrations. This video future proofs this program for us, it can be used as a training tool for new actors and could even be rolled out in other areas of regional NSW," Ms Suitor said.
The NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program has been running since 2008 and sees around 500 local Year 10 students take part each year. During that time, crashes involving young drivers on local roads has decreased 27%. The program includes a pre lesson, the crash scenario video and a follow-up lesson.
"Our crash scenario is based on a typical crash involving a P plate driver on our local roads. It's as real as we can make it. We want to show young drivers what can and does happen far too often on our roads. We want to encourage young people to make safe decisions when they get into a car as either the driver or a passenger.
"Thanks to all of the cast, crew and supporters that have made this video possible," Ms Suitor said.
The cast includes; Kaitlyn Stevenson, Zak Chatman, Shaylee Edwards, Amelia Barwick, Neil Westcott, Blake Martin, Ilee Hayden, James Simpson, Jack McGrath, Jarryn Grinter, Lisa McCreadie, Geoff Lovegrove, Alison Smith, Superintendent Brendan Gorman, Senior Constable Daniel Greef,
Detective Senior Constable Daniel Barling, Senior Constable Jason McKinnon, Constable Emma Montgomery, Constable Cooper Crouch-McKinnon, Constable Rachel Higgins, Jeff Field, Kira Leonard, David Law, Matthew Hando, Cassandra Barwick, Kim Edwards, Scott Baker and Gary O'Toole.
The crew includes; Glen Morgan, Sherry Morgan, Sam Hargraves and Phill Cranny.
With special thanks to; Parkes Auto Wreckers, Westlime, Regency Medical, The McMasters, Marianna Sarin, Parkes Hospital, Dr Kerry Stewart, Dr Nimesh Piyatissa and Gareth Sutton.
The program will commence on Tuesday 18 October and run until Wednesday 16 November.
"We will be returning to live demonstrations next year," Ms Suitor said.
