Mount Maunganui College’s Year 11 students will take part in the Ryda road safety workshop on October 16.
It is part of a nationwide initiative to equip young people with the knowledge and strategies needed to stay safe on New Zealand roads.
“We’re excited to be back in the Bay of Plenty delivering the Ryda workshop,” said Road Safety Education (RSE) Central North Island programme coordinator Ruth Nicholls.
“The programme is designed to help students make safer choices as both drivers and passengers – skills that could save lives.”
According to post-programme surveys, 92% of students say they are likely to apply what they learned at Ryda.
Ryda is NZ’s leading road safety education programme for senior secondary students. It combines interactive, real-world learning with expert-led sessions and post-workshop follow-up activities.
Students explore key road safety topics such as speed, risk management, peer pressure, and driver responsibility through a mix of hands-on experiences, crash re-enactments, and small group discussions.
In 2024, more than 17,580 students across New Zealand participated in the Ryda programme, reflecting its growing impact in shaping safer driving behaviour among young people.
Each workshop includes six core sessions: Speed & Stopping; Drive S.O.S.; The ‘I’ in Drive; Road Choices; Crash Investigators; and Mind Matters – all designed to empower students to make safer decisions, whether they’re behind the wheel or in the passenger seat.
In 2024, more than 17,580 students across NZ participated in the Ryda programme, reflecting its growing impact in shaping safer driving behaviour among young people. Photo / Supplied.
A standout feature of Ryda is the Driver Coach Session – an evening event for caregivers and whānau – which will also take place on October 16.
“This session offers practical advice and tips for anyone helping a young driver learn,” said Nicholls. “It helps caregivers understand the challenges their teens face and how to coach them effectively.”
With research showing that carrying young passengers significantly increases crash risk for novice drivers, Ryda’s focus on whole-community education is vital. Supporting materials such as lesson plans, risk factor guides, and post-workshop conversation tools are also available to families via the RSE website.
Ryda courses have been subsidised in the Bay of Plenty since 2018 through the financial support of BoP Rotary Ryda – a collective of the five Rotary clubs of Tauranga Te Papa, Tauranga Sunrise, Tauranga, Pāpāmoa, and Katikati.
According to post-programme surveys, 92% of students say they are likely to apply what they learned at Ryda, and 97% of teachers believe the workshop should be mandatory in all senior high schools.
For more information, visit: www.rse.org.nz/ryda, call 0800 150 180, or email: info@rse.org.nz