Road Safety - protecetive strategies and personal safety plans

Topic Area: Road Safety – protective strategies and personal safety plans



Rationale: Students are at an age where they will be faced with the independence and opportunity to drive. With this come large responsibility for themselves and other’s safety. Students analyse the factors influencing behaviours and major causal factors of road safety as they take individual action. Students evaluate current policies and strategies as they write a letter to address the needs of young people’s health and safety. Students plan a letter of correct format; synthesize their knowledge of skills, attitudes, influencing factors and consequences of road behaviour to apply to their own proposals for safe behaviour.

Outcomes: 5.6 – A student analyses attitudes, behaviours and consequences related to health issues young people.
5.7 A student analyses influences on health decision-making and develops strategies to promote health and safe behaviours.

SLA:
• road safety
– responsible driver and passenger behaviour
– factors influencing road-use behaviour
– major causal factors in road and traffic related injuries, eg human (speeding, drug use, fatigue, occupant restraint),environmental, vehicular
– consequences of unsafe road-use behaviour
– skills and attitudes that support safe road behaviour, eg hazard perception, road sharing and tolerance

• empowering individuals and communities
– individual action
– community action
– developing personal skills, eg advocacy
– developing supportive environments


SLT:
• propose and present strategies designed to promote safe road-use attitudes and behaviours
• propose and evaluate strategies that take into account influences on health decision-making, and support young people to behave in healthy and safe ways

Skills:
· communicating
· planning
· problem solving


Learning experience:
Case scenario: In the local community, there has been a significant increase in the amount of motor vehicle accidents that involve young people. Students believe that different/ new strategies need to be implemented by the local council / Roads and Traffic Authority to minimize harm as a result of motor vehicle accidents.
To take action, students must write a letter to either their local council or the Roads and Traffic Authority to express their concern and propose strategies designed to promote safe road use behaviours and attitudes. Strategies may include proposed introduction of new policy, changes to existing policies or a suggested initiative to be implemented by the local council/community that aims to develop skills and attitudes that support safe road behaviour. Strategies may include community participation or developing a supportive environment.


The letter must:
· follow correct format
· contain information such as the factors influencing road use behaviour, consequences of unsafe behaviour, analyse the current situation, propose changes or strategies to promote safe behaviour, propose and evaluate strategies that take into account influences on health decision making.


Stimulus:
· Case Scenario
· Letter format (resources)


Discussion points:
· Correct letter format
· Factors influencing road use behaviour
· Major causal factors in mva: speed, environment
· Consequences of unsafe behaviour
· Skills and attitudes that support safe behaviour
· How to take action as an individual and community



Resources: