The Cool Heads young driver program is heading to Echuca for the first time on Wednesday, June 19.
A range of guest speakers will educate young drivers and their parents on safe driving from 7pm at Twin Rivers School.
The free event has been organised by Leading Senior Constable Shane Roberts, a youth specialist officer for the proactive policing unit in Campaspe.
He is eager to see the event inform local drivers, following the program's success in Shepparton since 2008.
“It was definitely something I had some interest in,” Leading Senior Constable Roberts said.
“I started making the inquiries earlier in the year ... now we’re here.
“It hasn’t been without a bit of work, but it’s for a great cause. Ultimately, any life lost on our local roads is one too many.”
Cool Heads aims to educate young drivers on road safety, using powerful stories from first responders and road trauma victims to promote safe decision-making.
According to Leading Senior Constable Roberts, young people make up around 20 per cent of serious and fatal road injuries, with 80 per cent of that number being young men.
He believes that programs like Cool Heads can help prevent tragedies, especially in regional communities.
“It really sends that message of, ‘don’t think that it won’t happen to you’,” Leading Senior Constable Roberts said.
“If it does, that (has a) massive ripply effect in small communities like ours. It’s huge from just one life lost.
“The impact can be far-spread in a community like Echuca-Moama.”
The four guest speakers at the event bring diverse experiences with road trauma, either as emergency responders or close victims.
Victoria Police major collision investigation unit Detective Sergeant Stephen Hill is travelling up from Melbourne for the event.
Also speaking to the crowd is Echuca and Moama Search and Rescue Squad’s Mark Arrowsmith and Brent Law from Ambulance Victoria.
Robyn Greening from Amber Community, a road incident support and education organisation, will share her experience becoming a full-time carer for her son who was left disabled after a collision around 20 years ago.
The master of ceremonies for the event is Acting Inspector Damian Keegan, local commander of the Campaspe Police Service Area.
Leading Senior Constable Roberts said that sharing these stories with young people encourages them to reflect on their driving decisions.
“A pretty common theme is the negative outcomes,” he said.
“It puts it back on them that if they challenge their ideas and their behaviours that we can see a real change in road trauma.
“The Shepparton program has made a significant impact on reducing road trauma in their local area.
“I think something like 7000 young people have gone through that program since 2008.”
Schools and sporting clubs have been invited to attend, all the way from Cohuna to Mathoura and Deniliquin. The whole community is welcome to register for the free program.
Wednesday’s session marks the inaugural Echuca event. Leading Senior Constable Roberts is confident it will become a regular fixture in the calendar.
“Our goal is to make it an annual event in Campaspe,” he said.
“The aim is that we will run it in the future, probably as an annual event.
“It costs absolutely nothing to attend, and it may save their life, or the life of family and friends.”
The event is free to book and for anyone, particularly young drivers and their parents. Registration is via https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1219705