More WA students are set to benefit from a road safety program aimed at creating better drivers. Photo: Main Roads, Western Australian Government.
Western Australia’s Government hopes to shape the attitudes and behaviours of future drivers with a new road safety program aimed at Year 9 students.
The Road Smart Interactive program builds on the Road Safety Commission’s Road Smart Kickstart incursion program, aimed at students in Years 7 and 8. The program is an immersive system reliant on hands-on digital learning stations, educating participants about the dangers drivers face, especially speed, distractions, peer pressure and fatigue.
Students above this age range will have their education on the topic enhanced by the Road Smart Interactive program through scenario-based decision-making and more complex road safety challenges.
“We are investing in cultivating a new generation of future road users who have the skills, education and the right attitude to keep themselves and others on the roads safe,” Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said.
“Strong feedback from participating schools about the success of the Road Safety Commission’s Year 7 and 8s education program was the catalyst for expanding this program to Year 9 students.”
The Road Smart Interactive system was developed by the Victorian Transport Accident Commission and has been modified for Western Australia.
Grants of up to $5000 are available to schools participating in the Road Smart system to support student-led behavioural change initiatives.
Funding is provided by the Road Trauma Trust Account, which uses 100 per cent of fine revenue from safety cameras on projects that reduce dangers on WA roads.
These systems will use virtual-reality technology to engage young people in their important role in ensuring their own safety and protecting other road users.
Education Minister Sabine Winton said: “Our schools play an important role in shaping safe behaviours and attitudes, and programs like this give students a hands-on opportunity to think about road safety and better understand the impact of the decisions they make every day.”
A $15.2 million funding commitment in the December 2025 Road Safety Reform package makes the scheme possible, with a further $48.4 million announced in the 2026-27 State Budget.
These funding pledges will guarantee vital road safety education for students from Years 7 to 9 for the next four years.
So far, the Road Safety Commission is on track to complete about 500 incursion sessions, educating almost 14,000 students across the state.
To deliver these programs, educators have travelled 23,260 kilometres throughout Western Australia in the past year.
Key objectives of the program include increased safety awareness, education on the role young people play in safety, support for teachers to enhance safe road behaviour and encouragement of positive behaviour through evidence-based learning.
Bookings for the Road Smart programs can be made on the Road Safety Commission’s website.
