Road Safety Challenges and Celebrating Success with Auckland's Alternative Education Students
As 2024 drew to a close, it was a great time to reflect on the fantastic road safety sessions I had the privilege of running last year, with Alternative Education students at two different providers in Auckland. Twice per term, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with these students, teaching them valuable road safety skills and creating a fun, interactive learning environment. But what better way to wrap up the year than with an exciting, hands-on road safety challenge, which not only tested their knowledge but also brought together the community, including the police and the Community Road Safety Team from Auckland Transport.
Building Awareness: Road Safety Education
The goal of these sessions has always been clear: to empower young people with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe on the road. Alternative Education students often face unique challenges, and road safety can be an area where extra attention is needed. Over the course of the year, we covered a wide range of topics, relevant to the age groups. It’s been amazing to watch the students grow in their confidence, knowledge, and sense of responsibility when it comes to their own safety and that of others.
Some sessions were practical, like testing their ability to listen to instructions and answer questions at the same time, to seeing how fast some of these rangatahi can run towards a speed laser, while others were more discussion-based, exploring topics such as the importance of seat belts, the risks of impaired driving, the dangers of distracted driving and the effects of speeding.
The Big Challenge: Demerit Point Day
To wrap up all of our hard work, we decided to make the final session of the year something truly special. What better way to consolidate all the lessons learned throughout the year than with a demerit point challenge? This fun-filled event was held at a local park, and it wasn’t just about theory—it was about putting road safety skills into practice in a competitive and engaging way.
In partnership with Auckland Transport and the New Zealand Police, we set up a series of road safety challenges where the students were divided into teams. Each team had to complete a variety of tasks, each with its own points system—some challenges were worth more points than others, and the ultimate goal was to rack up 100 points to complete it! This reiterated the fact that in NZ, if you accumulate 100 or more demerit points in any two-year period, your licence can be suspended for three months.
What Did the Challenge Involve?
The challenge was a perfect blend of learning and play. Students were tasked with completing different activities that tested their knowledge of road safety in real-world scenarios. Here’s a quick rundown of the activities:
Find The Answer: Teams had to answer five road safety themed questions.
Lights Camera Action: This activity wasn’t for the faint hearted. Teams were tasked to plan and film a 30-60 second video on a road safety topic of their choice.
Ice breaker: Everyone loves an ice breaker but can you create one that’s guaranteed to engage young people?
Speed Gun laser: Designed to test how fast students could run. Run by police.
Scooter course: On-site scooter station allowed students to practice their scootering abilities while adhering to road safety rules, like signalling turns, checking blind spots, and wearing helmets. Run by AT
Egg & spoon race (Impairment goggles): In this hands-on activity to do with speed and agility, students had to simulate driving while impaired (e.g. alcohol, drugs & fatigue) while wearing impairment goggles, and then identify the risks involved and how to avoid them. Run by AT
How high can you jump: Used to assess the jumping ability of potential police recruits, this activity brought a fun element to the challenge. Run by police.
Match the traffic Signs: Similar to a card game, teams had to match the traffic signs to the correct meaning and how they contribute to road rules and a safer driving environment. Run by AT.
Each of these activities allowed the students to test their skills in a controlled, supportive environment, and it was incredible to see their enthusiasm and teamwork come to life.
Collaborating with Police and Auckland Transport
The inclusion of police officers and Auckland Transport staff added an invaluable layer to the day. We had a range of police officers there: Iwi Liaison Officers, School Community Officers and Dog Handlers. They offered real-life insights, ran activities and provided encouragement. Auckland Transport’s participation was also essential in helping the students see the broader community efforts in road safety, reinforcing the importance of road safety for everyone, not just those on the road, but also those in the community. Their staff ran many events on the day and without them it would not have been the same! A massive thank you to all staff involved.
For the students, it wasn’t just about winning points—it was about interacting with professionals, asking questions, and learning directly from the people responsible for road safety in their area. This interaction helped bridge the gap between theory and reality, making the lessons they’ve learned all year even more tangible.
At the end of the challenge one of the Alt Ed providers was lucky enough to have police dog handlers come to visit them. They demonstrated the different roles of their operational dogs and what they are used for. A big thank you to the dog handlers and of course their fantastic K9’s!
Fun, Learning, and Teamwork
The day wasn’t just about learning, though. It was also about having fun, building confidence, and celebrating all the hard work that had gone into the road safety sessions throughout the year. The students worked incredibly well together in their teams, supporting each other and showing off what they had learned. There were laughs, cheers, and even a few moments of friendly competition, but at the heart of the event was a shared sense of achievement.
By the end of the day, every student had a better understanding of how to stay safe on the roads, and most importantly, they had experienced first hand how knowledge and preparation can make a real difference in keeping themselves and others safe.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Road Safety Journey
This year’s demerit point challenge was the perfect way to end what has been a rewarding and educational year of road safety sessions. But the journey doesn’t end here. Road safety is something that needs to be continually reinforced, especially for young people who are just beginning to navigate the roads. I look forward to continuing to work with these amazing students next year, helping them to grow as responsible road users and keeping the community safe.
I’d like to extend my gratitude to Auckland Transport, the New Zealand Police, and all the amazing staff at the Alternative Education providers for making this event possible. I look forward to working closely on a similar event next year and can’t wait to see what we accomplish together in the future!
Stay safe, and remember—the road safety lessons we’ve learned are just the beginning!
-Sandra Dacey, Community Road Safety Lead
If you’re interested in learning more about road safety education or want to get involved in similar initiatives, feel free to reach out. We’re always looking for more ways to help our rangatahi stay safe on the roads. Contact Sandra - sandra@sadd.org.nz to find our more.