In this edition we share the results of a recent independent evaluation of the Ryda Program, shine a spotlight on regional and rural roads and give you a peak inside one of our workshop sessions.
In this issue – scroll down or click to jump ahead:
Ryda gets independent tick of approval
A new independent evaluation by the MAIC-QUT Road Safety Research Collaboration (formerly CARRS-Q) has confirmed that Road Safety Education Limited’s Ryda program sets the benchmark for evidence-based, best-practice road safety education.
Funded through the Queensland Government’s Community Road Safety Grants scheme, the evaluation found Ryda to be professionally delivered, engaging, and strongly aligned with international behaviour-change and learning frameworks — including the Queensland Good Practice Guidelines for Road Safety Education, the Goals for Driver Education (GDE) framework, and the Kraiger et al. Learning Outcomes Model.
Comprehensive mapping showed that Ryda not only addresses every key risk area identified in the guidelines, but also empowers students to develop and commit to strategies they find realistic, relevant, and within their control. With 98% of teachers reporting satisfaction with Ryda, and the majority highlighting its clear alignment with school wellbeing and safety objectives, Ryda is well-positioned to achieve its aims of increasing the road safety of young people.
*Pre-Ryda workshops are completed before workshop and not designed, expected nor should be required to address all risks outlined in TMR Good Practice Guidelines, Kraiger et al. Learning Outcomes Model, or GDE framework.
Read the full Article
Young people in regional and rural areas face greater road risks
Young Australians and New Zealanders living in regional and rural communities are significantly more exposed to the dangers of road trauma than their urban counterparts. While country roads carry only a fraction of the nations’ traffic, they account for a disproportionate number of serious crashes and fatalities.
Despite making up around one-third of Australia’s population, regional and rural areas account for well over half of the nation’s road fatalities. For young people growing up outside of major cities, this means everyday travel—to school, work, or social events—carries a much heavier burden of risk.
For instance, in Australia, the rate of approx. 11.21 deaths per 100,000 people in rural/regional areas is much higher than metropolitan areas (2.25 deaths per 100,000 people). Even though the majority of hospitalised injuries from crashes occur in major cities (because most people live in those areas), risk per capita increases significantly with remoteness.
The story is similar in New Zealand, with rural road users nearly twice as exposed to road fatalities and 1.6 × more likely to have traffic-injury hospitalisations than their metropolitan counterparts.
Read the full Article
Ryda super-sizes learning with help from Boral
Through our Ryda Drive SOS topic, students learn to share the road safely — not just with other cars, but with pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, buses and heavy trucks. The goal? To empower socially conscious, forward-thinking, safe road users.
At the workshop, we use interactive video content, hands-on experiments and group discussions to guide students as they explore the unique challenges others face on the road. Because, when they can see the road through someone else’s eyes, they can better anticipate behavior and make safer, smarter decisions before things escalate. Go behind the scenes as we design a new super-sized interactive activity to help drive the learning home.
Read the full Article
RSE welcomes back a trusted partner
We’re proud to see AMI return to the Ryda partnership network in Aotearoa. For years, AMI has stood alongside communities, championing road safety and youth education. Their renewed commitment means more than support, it’s about helping young drivers make confident, informed choices every time they’re on the road. Through AMI Roadside Rescue and AMI MotorHub, they bring practical solutions and genuine care to the Ryda program, adding depth and energy as we work to reach more learners nationwide. Together, we’re focused on what matters most: keeping people safe and building a future where every journey is a safer one.
We look forward to working with the AMI team to inspire the next generation of responsible road users.
Share this article
