There’s only a few weeks until this year's mock car crash demonstration for Year 10 students across the region and the third and final rehearsal is open to the public.
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Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils' Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, is inviting residents to come along to the Parkes PCYC on Monday, August 21 at 7pm to see what the annual demonstration is all about.
“We are really excited to open our final rehearsal to the public,” Melanie said.
“This will be the third time we have offered this experience to locals. In the past we received requests from people who wanted to see the demonstration and we've also found that having a live audience really lifts the performance from our actors.
“The demonstration is as close to the real thing as it can be without it actually being the real thing.”
The demonstration begins with a short film that sets the scene prior to the crash occurring. Then the mock car crash demonstration begins.
There is a full emergency response involving NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and Parkes SES.
“We have sourced local youth actors to play the roles of the crash victims and the local emergency services will be performing their usual tasks,” Melanie said.
“The demonstration concludes with a victim impact statements recorded by the crash victims six months on from the crash.”
Running time is about 60 minutes and there is no need to book - just turn up. The curtain will open at 7pm.
The mock crash demonstration is the major strategy of the NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program, developed in response to crash data that shows young drivers are over-represented in road crashes across the state.
Melanie said in NSW driver's under the age of 25 hold 16 per cent of licences but are involved in 32 per cent of crashes.
Locally, young drivers are involved in 25 per cent of crashes on roads within the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council areas.
Melanie said the purpose of the program is to improve the attitudes and behaviours of young drivers and passengers.
"Please remember that if you are coming along, the content is not suitable for children under the age of 15 and that it is a rehearsal,” she said.
“We won't have all the bells and whistles set up, but it will still be a memorable experience.”
More than 500 students from nine high schools across the three council areas will view the mock crash demonstration during two sessions on Thursday, August 24.
