In a Queensland first, the RACQ will sponsor a Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) program that aims to reduce road deaths and injuries among young drivers.

The Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y) Program, coordinated by the RBWH trauma service, takes high school students into the hospital’s emergency, intensive care, trauma and rehabilitation wards so they can see first hand the outcomes of road crashes.

RACQ Group CEO Ian Gillespie said the motoring club was proud to contribute $10,000 annually towards the hospital’s charity arm, the RBWH Foundation, to run the program, which demonstrated to young people how risky behaviour on the roads could lead to irreversible and long term injuries, or death.

“The P.A.R.T.Y Program delivers a powerful road safety message to young people at a critical time in their lives – before they learn to drive,” Mr Gillespie said.

“Queensland’s young drivers are over represented in the trauma wards because of motor vehicle crashes. Around 40 percent of deaths in teenagers and young adults aged between 15-25 years are caused through trauma.

“This program helps to prepare young people for the dangers they will face on the roads and encourage them to drive responsibly to prevent crashes.”

Under the program, emergency personnel and hospital staff take students through simulated scenarios in the emergency department trauma room, intensive care and trauma ward where they spend time with patients and their families.

“Hearing first hand about the experiences the patients and their families have gone through following a car or motorbike crash sends a very clear message about road safety,” Mr Gillespie said.

“One split second can change your life forever. RACQ supports the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital’s endeavours to help cut the road toll among our young drivers and increase safety on Queensland’s roads.”

About 540 high school students in south-east Queensland will attend the P.A.R.T.Y Program, which was pioneered in Canada, this year. The RBWH expects to extend the program to regional areas of the state in 2012.

“RACQ encourages members of the corporate sector and community to support this life saving program for our youth by donations to the RBWH Foundation,” Mr Gillespie said.

For further information visit www.rbwhfoundation.com.au or call RBWH on 07 3636 1302