St Joseph's Nudgee College

October 17, 2008

Nudgee's Year 12 students witnessed just what can happen at a serious motor vehicle accident through a carefully staged re-enactment of a fatal crash.

Rather than just talking about accidents in class, the students were confronted by mock injuries, emergency services in attendance including fire, police and ambulance, right through to funeral directors taking away a deceased person.

The Docu-Drama Program is designed to prevent motor vehicle accidents, by showing young drivers what is involved in a serious accident. Nudgee students saw the "Jaws of Life" at work as it freed a trapped passenger, witnessed the arrival of the Energex Community Rescue Helicopter and heard messages from highly trained personnel from all the emergency services.

Docu-Drama presenter Barry Collis said the only thing missing were the "pains of anguish from the victims and the nauseating smells accidents emit."

Whilst the physical signs of sirens and flashing lights caught the attention of the Nudgee boys, it was the more somber messages from accident survivors that really stuck with the students.

One accident survivor, now quadriplegic, spoke about how his life had changed.

"I can't just hang out with my mates, I will never drive again and I am very reliant upon my family and parents for basic care. One silly act of bravado on my part has drastically changed the entire lifestyle me, my family and friends now live," he said.

The main causes of motor vehicle accidents for youth include speeding, peer group pressure, fatigue, alcohol and drugs. The boys also heard that texting on a mobile phone whilst driving causes more deaths than drink driving and that there are big fines also.

The longer term repercussions of accidents such as hospitalisation, physical recovery and legal matters were also discussed, as serious accidents can influence a person for the rest of their life.

Director of Years 10-12 Students Martin Wiseman said programs such as "Docu-Drama" were important for senior students given the high percentage of drivers in road accidents who were young men.

"As more and more of our Year 12 students become associated with cars, either as drivers or passengers they need to be made very aware of the issues involved. Driving responsibly is paramount, but being a sensible passenger and looking out for your mates could also save lives," Mr Wiseman said.

"Having presented the Docu-Drama at Nudgee over the last several years we do know it makes a difference in boys' attitudes, we hope they all exercise care and control for their own safety and others on the roads."