Launched in Shepparton in 2008, the CoolHeads program has educated more than 7000 young drivers aged between 16 and 25 about the traumatic consequences of road accidents.
The program invites first responders to accidents to talk about their experiences, as well as people who have lost loved ones or have been involved in road trauma.
Mitchell Leading Senior Constable Brooke Malane said the police were excited to bring the program to Mitchell Shire and hoped to regularly host speakers.
“We’ve got a lot of young people on the road, so I think it would be really effective,” she said.
“Even if one person walks away from CoolHeads and shares it with their friends, it’s worth it.”
Open to all community members, Lead Sen Constable Malane said a large portion of audiences are parents and their kids who are beginning to learn to drive.
“It is aimed at young people aged 16-25 but also to parents, and it helps reinforce the safety messages parents are trying to teach,” she said.
“It is quite confronting.”
Ldg Sen Constable Malane said once it was up and running, police hoped to run the program twice a year in two Mitchell locations — Wallan and Seymour.
She said they were also hoping to expand the program state-wide.
“It’s something we’re really passionate about,” Ldg Sen Constable Malane said.
“We hope it keeps people safe.”
The CoolHeads young drivers program is free to attend at Wallan Secondary College on Wednesday, March 2.
Book your tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cool-heads-young-driver-program-wallan-tickets-243329022657
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