A Powerful Reminder – Year 10s Attend RAC bstreetsmart 2026
Our Year 10 students attended the RAC bstreetsmart event at RAC Arena this week, an impactful and thought-provoking experience designed to highlight the real consequences of road trauma. Through powerful storytelling, live demonstrations, and insights from emergency services and medical professionals, students were given a confronting look at how quickly decisions on the road can change lives.
A Confronting Start
The day began with a live crash re-enactment, a powerful and realistic simulation showing how quickly a single moment on the road can change lives forever. Emergency services responded in real time, giving students a clear picture of what happens in the aftermath of a serious accident.
It was a confronting way to begin the day, setting the tone for the important messages that followed.
“I think the thing that had the most impact was that the whole day was so honest about the reality of car accidents and how it is a very real thing with real consequences that can affect lots of people.” – Elizabeth
“The most intriguing impact that I have learnt today was the reenactment at the start… it was not meant to frighten us, but to warn us of the harsh impacts and the fatal consequences that come along with it.” – Talitha
Hearing the Reality First-Hand
Students heard from guest speaker Robert Pike, who shared his deeply personal story. At just 17, Rob was involved in a crash that claimed the lives of three of his friends and resulted in the loss of both his legs. Today, he speaks to young people about making safer choices and looking out for one another.
His message was simple but powerful: the decisions we make matter, and we don’t always get a second chance.
“His horrific anecdote allowed us to connect statistics to a real-life situation and gave us all the opportunity to engage with the issue on a more heartfelt level.” – Skye
The program also included insights from trauma surgeon Dr Rohit Sarvepalli, who works on the front line at Royal Perth Hospital and sees the devastating impact of road accidents every day. His perspective reinforced just how serious the consequences can be, not only in the moment, but for a lifetime.
Adding another important layer, speaker Julian Pace explored the connection between mental wellbeing, peer pressure, and decision-making, encouraging students to back themselves and make positive choices.
“The RAC bstreetsmart excursion was an insightful experience… we learnt that crashes could happen to anyone at any time, and key strategies to prevent becoming victims of crashes.” – Lillyanne
Connecting with Those Who Respond
During the break, students had the opportunity to meet emergency service personnel and explore their equipment, gaining a deeper understanding of the roles played by WA Police, St John WA, DFES and hospital teams in responding to road trauma.
These interactions helped bring the experience to life, showing the real people behind the response.
An Experience That Stays With You
RAC bstreetsmart goes beyond awareness. It challenges students to think differently about risk, responsibility, and the influence they have on others.
For our Year 10s, the day was a chance to pause and reflect on the kind of drivers, passengers, and friends they want to be. The stories, statistics, and real-life perspectives combined to deliver a message that was both sobering and empowering.
“Today’s Bstreetsmart excursion was an impactful experience that allowed us to understand the life-threatening consequences that come from irresponsible driving on our roads.” – Skye
Experiences like this don’t fade quickly. They stay with students as they begin to navigate greater independence, helping guide safer choices in the moments that matter most.
As students departed, the impression they left was just as powerful.
“After the presentations had finished, and as the girls were leaving, I had the pleasure of chatting with a small group of the girls about their experience. They were an absolute delight! They were an engaging group who shared their experience in a very mature fashion, talking about how the event shaped their views on driving and risk taking – they are a credit to their parents and are great ambassadors for Santa Maria.” Rob Slocombe, RAC Group CEO
- Featured, RAC bstreetsmart 2026, road safety education, road trauma awareness, safe driving choices, Santa Maria College, Student Wellbeing, Year 10, youth decision making
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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