NORTH West schools are lamenting the loss of a vital education program aimed at saving young lives on the roads.
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The Road Awareness and Accident Prevention Program ceased in schools in December 2012.
The government said the cuts were part of addressing Queensland’s $80 billion debt problem, which led to putting a halt on the RAAP program which was run at schools across the state by Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.
The program involved emergency services personnel attending schools and discussing what can happen when a person speeds, drinks, texts or talks on the phone while driving.
Videos and dissuasion is used in conjunction with a number of crash scenarios and a mock crushed car to give students a real life experience where the car is taken apart by the ‘‘jaws of life’’.
State member for Mount Isa Rob Katter slammed the cuts to the program as a dangerous decision.
“The government canned this high impact program by withdrawing $150,000 in funding from December 2012,” he said.
“Young driver education is vital in rural and remote regions such as ours, where young people traditionally get their licenses early for convenience and ease of travel.
“Fortunately at least one high school that I know of has adapted their own program, and the fire and rescue service are helping with that.
“Other schools say they miss the program and haven’t initiated anything, but would be very supportive of any similar program offer.”
Mr Katter said if one life was saved because the RAAP program it would be worth it.
“This petty scrimping is a hallmark of this government and has hit remote and regional areas harder than the south east where the government spends up large on new office buildings and traffic tunnels in the south east corner,” Mr Katter said.
A spokesman for Minister for Police Fire and Emergency Services Jack Dempsey said the government still has strong plans for road safety. “The LNP government has a strong plan for safe communities, and road safety is a whole of government responsibility,” spokesperson said.
“In 2012, we took choices to address Queensland’s $80 billion debt problem, however our commitment to road safety is as strong as ever.”
