A reality check for high school students

She was just 15 months old. Her parents, Peter and Emma Cockburn, believe that simple measures could have prevented this horrific accident from ever happening.

From out of their tragedy they have made a huge and positive impact on the lives of Year 10 students from Young High School with their Georgina Josephine driver awareness demonstration.

On Wednesday morning Year 10 students were confronted with the realities of being behind the wheel of a car when Peter and Emma demonstrated to them just how much they can miss when they’re driving.

While taking turns sitting in the drivers seat, with their class mates either sitting behind or standing around the car, the students were shocked by the size and the number of blind spots in the vehicle, however they now feel they have a better understanding of safety awareness around the car for themselves and for others.

Nine out of ten people who sit in the drivers seat are able to see the person sitting at the end of the mat, Emma explained to the students before they discovered that fact for themselves. 

The students learning that they need to be aware of the dangers of blind spots will, the Cockburns hope, prevent the students from hitting a child, not just in the garage or driveway, but also in car parks, outside schools or down at the shops.

By taking a few seconds and completing a ‘Circle of Safety,’ drivers will ensure that there are no obstacles, children or animals around that could either endanger themselves or those in the vehicle. BHP use the ‘Circle of Safety’ as a part of their safe vehicle policy and Emma and Peter hope that it’s a habit that all drivers can adopt.

“There’s not one silver bullet that will solve this problem,” Emma said

She believes education and awareness are key to preventing low speed run overs from occurring.

Emma hopes the students will take the message safe driving starts before you get in the car and to take those extra few seconds to double check their surroundings.

The Cockburns received a grant from NRMA to build and create this program that not only learner drivers will benefit from, but adults as well.

Emma and Peter hope with their demonstration they can create good driving habits within the drivers of the future so they don’t have to go through what their family did.

The Cockburns would like to remind Young that the annual Georgina Joesphine Foundation Duck Day will be held on February 9, 2016.