English provides a range of opportunities for the incorporation of Road Safety into the curriculum. Students can use the theme in creative writing, poetry, debating and a range of activities in which they express some of the emotional outcomes for victims, families and the community.

Creative Writing could centre on a scenario in which a student is at a party and unable to get home safely.

Poetry could express feelings about losing somebody in a car crash.

Debates could centre on issues such as curfews or seat belts in buses.

Students could be asked to respond to articles such as "A Different Breed".

Reading lists can also incorporate books which deal with some of the issues which can have an impact on Road Safety: -

Peer Pressure: -

Murray, Kirsty - Walking home with Marie Claire

McCarthy, Maureen - Ganglands and Cross my heart

Clark, Margaret - No fat chicks

Drugs: -

Harewood, Jocelyn - Spiked

Klein, Robin - Came back to show you I could Fly

McCuaig, Sandra - Spaghetti connections

Roxburgh, Tania - Compulsion

Choices: -

Clark, Margaret - The big chocolate bar

Hartnett, Sonya - The glass house

Kelleher, Annette - Pumpkin head is dead

McCarthy, Maureen - Cross my heart

Maloney, James - Black taxi

Orr, Wendy - Peeling the onion

Roy, James - Full moon racing

Stewart, Maureen - Vicki's habit

Police Profile: -

(Resource list from "Your Turn", Transport SA, 2004)

What follows is an example of a Year 12 Interactive Study for English Communications, which involved the creation of a set of questions, followed by interviews with "community experts": -

English Communications- Interactive Study

For my interactive study I decided to conduct an interview, discovering the opinions of the emergency services personnel on p-plate related car incidents. A 22 question interview was conducted, relating to a number of aspects within a basis question. I hoped to have gained enough information through these interviews to answer the question of a myth that teenagers are dying on the roads in my area due to reckless driving and poor judgment.

The interviews conducted represented all areas of emergency personnel, the SA Ambulance Service, SA police, CFS and SES, and an additional interview with the driver education teacher at our school, Mr. Williams.

The opinions given by these people gave me a greater appreciation of their jobs, and the realizations of what their main focus is; to help people. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the opinions, some of which I could relate to.

The questions covered were not typical styled questions. The questions requested interviewees to think more about their personal feelings and opinions, a change they all also noted. The interviews were conducted in a relaxed setting, taking place at the interviewee’s houses. The language used was a more casual style, but well mannered. The conversation seemed to flow well, particularly when I added comments through answers, breaking the serious conversation. All the interviewees were known to me personally which made the conversations easier to conduct. However, I did often repeat questions, as they appeared to be too long, and all elements were not noticed; a change that could be made for future interviews. This seemed to create a more determined tone to my voice, making the questions stronger the second time they were heard.

I found most of the questions were answered with a simple answer, and then elaborated further. This gave me a better understanding of what they were talking about, and also gave them the opportunity to then provide reasons for their summarized version. This blunt comment was always short, simple, and seemed to stand out better than the explanation. I found many of the answers provided the same points of interest, sharing feelings of anger and disappointment.

The common theme of all interviewees was the feeling of what their job makes them consider. They are often questioning their feelings toward their job, and the events that take place resulting in them doing it. But at the end of the day they realize, there is only so much they can do. We can educate, and change laws, but it will still depend on the individual attitude of the driver. They do their job for a genuine love, and commitment to the community, but still hang on the hope that still more educating can be done to reduce the amount of crashes and serious injuries.

It seemed to them that government ads were not working, conveying a message similar to smoking campaigns, which are also believed to be continually ignored. Instead, the belief remained that more restrictions at the p-plate stage would be more effective. These restrictions included curfew hours, number of occupants in the vehicle, and engine capacity restrictions. These suggested restrictions did not surprise me, as I can relate to the reasons why they were suggested. I think restrictions such as these would also be effective, and even perhaps change the ‘show off’ attitude that appears to be happening more and more.

The effects placed on my interviewees when arriving to an accident where people were known to them seemed to put the most strain on them than an accident where multiple fatalities are experienced. In these situations they just seem to cope at the time, focusing on the fact that they are the only ones there for the job. It is only after the incident they seem to realize the effect it is actually having on them. In a small community, to them it often feels that situations of a social nature are opportunities for members of the public to question or comment on incidents that have occurred. These situations seem to be the hardest aspect of living in a community like this, when all they want is to avoid talking about it. But in a way it is also soothing to the public as they are also affected by these incidents deeply. Perhaps an interesting fact to add is a comment made on the short time it takes for everything to go back to normal. A time frame of three to four weeks when it seems to place a noticing effect on the community, but afterwards it seems to wear off.

The attitudes of drivers were often a topic mentioned through questions. It was the main cause in crashes in all the interviewee’s opinions. A clear point made particularly concerning male drivers. This combined with their driving style, seemed to reflect the statistics gathered. An opportunity to then provide advice to the general public also touched on this subject. It seemed to be an area all interviewees considered to be place where all drivers could improve, not just p-plate drivers. Attitude change also was blamed for the sudden change in the safety between learner drivers and p-plate drivers. The expression of relief and over-confidence mixed with in-experience seemed to be a common answer. When attitude was mentioned the tone of voice noticeably changed. It seemed to become much more stern, and judgmental. This created an interesting vibe, and changed the dynamic on the answer. It felt much more influential than many of the other answers.

Crashes are a fact of life, a situation I think we have come to accept in life. This same opinion was expressed by the interviewees, and also creates a feeling amongst drivers that they are driving like it is a privilege not a right. This question seemed to be a topic they all seemed like they had not considered before. When the question was asked it seemed to be answered with an element of surprise, and uncertainty, something that had not happened the previous questions before.

The basis question provided a great introduction, as it gave a general idea on what I was talking about, and also became a formal beginning to all interviews; it began the conversation. I think this introductory question was able to relate to the questions which meant it engaged thoughts on this topic from the beginning, and no explanation was needed. The other questions most importantly informed me to make an educated opinion on the myth or the truth. From this I would conclude that p-platers are dying on our roads from the reasons of reckless driving and poor judgment. But this is not the source of the problems, this is the outcome. The attitude seems to create the poor judgment and recklessness. It was believed that if the attitude was changed amongst all drivers, not just p-platers, then most crashes would be avoided.