1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Now, the Northern Territory's largest road safety event for youth 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: is happening this Thursday, and thousands of local high school 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: students are set to take part in Street Smart High. 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: It is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year as well. 5 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,319 Speaker 1: The event's delivered well, it has delivered a number of 6 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: local agencies. It's delivered buyer should say a number of 7 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:26,479 Speaker 1: local agencies, including the Northern Territory Police and AAENTT Now 8 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: it features a simulated crash scene with real vehicles and 9 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: emergency services to bring those road safety lessons to life. 10 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 1: It is such an important event for our young people. 11 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: And joining me in the studio right now, well from 12 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Police, I've got Superintendent Rick mcgree Good 13 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: morning to you, Rick, Yeah, really good, lovely to have 14 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: you in the studio. And we've also got ant CEO 15 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: Simon Matthias. Lovely to see you as well, Simon, good 16 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: to have you both in the studio. Now. Look, I 17 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: think this is a wonderful events, something that happens every year, 18 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: celebrating its fifth anniversary. Now for those who've never been 19 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,119 Speaker 1: or don't know a lot about it, Simon, I might 20 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,199 Speaker 1: go to you first tell us a little bit more 21 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: about the event and who'll be there. 22 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: Okakatie. So it's been going since twenty and twenty one, 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 2: so this is our fifth year and this year we'll 24 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 2: see a fifth sorry, five thousandth student go through the doors. 25 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 2: And this year we've actually got a record number of registrations. 26 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 2: We've got around eighteen hundred, year eleven and twelve and 27 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 2: a few year tens as well students coming through, mostly 28 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 2: from the Greater Darwin area. There's also about one hundred 29 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: teachers accompanying them. So over the past five years we've 30 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: had you know, as I said, five thousand people attending. 31 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: So it is probably the number one youth road safety 32 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 2: initiative in the territory and we'd like to think it's 33 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 2: certainly having a positive impact on the driving behaviors of 34 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 2: young people, which is really what it's all about. And yeah, 35 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: it should be. It should be a good event. As 36 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 2: you've mentioned, you know, there's there's a simulated car accident 37 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: scene that starts, you know, with a kind of a 38 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 2: social occasion and it goes through you know, through through 39 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 2: to a car accident and then the consequences play out. 40 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: So it's quite a confronting thing to experience. I went 41 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 2: to my first one last year and it certainly left 42 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 2: a lasting impression. And obviously that's the objective. 43 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: Well, that's what you want it to do, right, We 44 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: want to make sure that our young people are safe 45 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: when they get into a vehicle. I mean, Rick, as 46 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: a police officer, you've been a police officer for quite 47 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: a long period of time. Some of the things that 48 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,399 Speaker 1: you see, some of the different crashes that I'm sure 49 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: you've gone out to over the years, it's really important 50 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: that kids do actually get that message. And I don't 51 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: know if frightening them into getting you know, like, I 52 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: don't know if that's the right word, but I'm happy 53 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: for that to happen, for my kids to be really 54 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: bluntly honest about it, because I want them to be 55 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: safe when they get into a car. 56 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, one hundred percent. And it's not so much about 57 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 3: frightening them, but it is the reality of what a 58 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 3: crash scene looks like. And all the feedback I've got 59 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 3: from my team, who unfortunately have to go to these 60 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 3: things every day, the feedback from them is that it's 61 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 3: so realistic. So if you can get that reality of 62 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 3: what that looks like, feels like, smells like to these 63 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 3: young kids, then that's a really good way for them 64 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,639 Speaker 3: to really see the reality of it and hopefully learn 65 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 3: from it. 66 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 1: Well, and you and I both got teenage girls, I like, 67 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: we've got teenage kids. All of us have got kids. 68 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: You want to make sure that they are educated and 69 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: they know the impact they're jumping into a car with 70 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: somebody who's maybe intoxicated or under the influence, or somebody 71 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: who's speeding, or somebody that's on their phone, all the 72 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: different you know, all the different things that you can 73 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: do that can impact the way in which you drive. 74 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly, and you'd know as well as as we 75 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 3: do that. You know, definitely parents have a role to play, 76 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 3: but with kids these age this message is a lot 77 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 3: better delivered from other people. So you know, if they 78 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 3: can get this experience, it's it's absolutely a great opportunity 79 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 3: for them to pick that up. 80 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: Simon, was it the AA and T that came up 81 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: with the idea of holding this event. 82 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 2: It was, so we worked closely with RAA in South Australia, 83 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 2: so they started it and they support us running the event, 84 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 2: so we do manage it, but that there's A few 85 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 2: people have arrived this morning actually from Raa in Adelaide 86 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: to help us. So it's now run by most car 87 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 2: clubs around the country. So it's certainly one that's been 88 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: picked up and embraced by pretty much every car club. 89 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 2: And I think the reason it is it is so 90 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: popular is, as Rick has said, it's an event that 91 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 2: kind of sticks with people. It's hard to capture the 92 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 2: attention of a year eleven student. Now, my son attended 93 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 2: two years ago and hit. The feedback I got was that, 94 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 2: you know, this is actually something I'll remember, and it's 95 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: actually I think, something I think about when I get 96 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 2: behind the wheel of a car, which is exactly. 97 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: What that's exactly what you want. Now, I know that 98 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: there's students, you know, they're also going to hear from 99 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: people whose lives have been affected by crashes as well, 100 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: aren't they. 101 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 2: Yes, So we will have a number of presenters who 102 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: will talk about their own experience and each of their 103 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 2: each presenter has a very different experience. But it's really 104 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 2: I guess the central message, Katie is that a split, 105 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 2: split second decision can have lifelong consequences, and that's certainly 106 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 2: certainly a message that anti police are consistently sending. We 107 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 2: think it's it's worth having people who have actually that 108 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 2: lived experience to tell their story so so that kids 109 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: can see right in front of their eyes, you know, 110 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 2: exactly how things can. 111 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: Turn one hundred percent Rick in terms of how we're 112 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 1: going in the Northern Territory at the moment, I mean, 113 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: how is how many lives have been more so far 114 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: on our roads. 115 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 3: So so far this year, Katie, we've lost six lives, 116 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 3: so that is a lot, but in comparison to where 117 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 3: we were last year this time last year was fifteen, 118 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 3: so six is still way too many. But definitely we 119 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 3: are seeing some better attitudes on the roads. And you know, 120 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 3: really that goes down to decisions people are making every day. 121 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: I mean, when you look at young drivers, are they 122 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: the most vulnerable on our roads? 123 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 3: It is interesting. So I think when people first start out, 124 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 3: they're very cautious and that's a really good thing. Obviously 125 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 3: they lack that experience. It's more young people that we find, 126 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 3: so I'll caveat that with sort of that under twenty five. 127 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 3: So it's really important important to get to these kids 128 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 3: at the start of their driving journey to try and 129 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 3: you know, give them the information to make better decisions 130 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 3: while they are still young. So we consider sort of 131 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 3: young people that under twenty five sort of category. 132 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 2: And I think there's some unique challenges about driving up 133 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 2: in the NT as well. Kids need to be aware 134 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: of you know, seventy percent of our roads are unsealed. 135 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 2: You know, we encounter things like road trains, which which 136 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 2: are animals, animals which which are things that perhaps people 137 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 2: in other states and territories don't encounter as regularly. 138 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's spot on. Like you know, you see all 139 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: sorts of things out on the roads in the Northern Territory, 140 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: don't you When you go for a drive. You see 141 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: in Kangaroo. You know, I've seen EMUs in different locations, 142 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: all sorts of things. So you've got to make sure 143 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: that you do take some extra care. 144 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, and that's the thing. So, like as I touched 145 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 3: on before, these kids really lack experience when they're starting 146 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 3: out on their journey. But if we can get their 147 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 3: driving attitude right, yeah, and that's you know the big 148 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 3: part of the puzzle. 149 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: What about phones? Like how big an issue is that 150 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: because kids are glued to their phones these days, I mean, 151 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: like they is that a concern as well when they 152 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: do get their licenses. 153 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,559 Speaker 3: One hundred percent, And that's really something that is easy 154 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 3: to fix and it's just about forming those right habits. 155 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 3: That's what we can do as parents to really, you know, 156 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 3: set a great example. So for me, it's always in 157 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 3: the car phone, in the glove box, you know, the 158 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 3: Santa console, and the kids see that and they sort 159 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 3: of see that, you know, it's not something that we're 160 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 3: going to play with or whatever. So yeah, as parents, 161 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 3: that's what we can do. But definitely, while you've got 162 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 3: that period with your kids when they're learning how to drive, 163 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 3: get that message through that it's such a huge distraction. 164 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, make sure you do the right thing in front 165 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: of them. Is there a certain theme this year for 166 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: the event. 167 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 2: Yes, Katie. So what we want people to do, and 168 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 2: including parents, is to have what we're referring to as 169 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: the elephant in the room conversation. So the elephant in 170 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 2: the room is the thing that we all know is 171 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 2: there but no one wants to talk about. And the 172 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,439 Speaker 2: Fatal Five are the elephants in the room. So we've 173 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:48,319 Speaker 2: actually got five inflatable elephants. Each one represents one of 174 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 2: the fatal five. So you know, distracted driving, speeding, drink driving, etc. 175 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 2: And so for the parents listening this morning, what we'd 176 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 2: like to do is to bring up, you know, the 177 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 2: conse have the conversation with their kids, maybe after the 178 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 2: event on Thursday, get their feedback, and start having the 179 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 2: discussions around the dining room table around road safety. Because 180 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 2: we're of the view that it's a conversation that we 181 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 2: just don't have. We kind of, as I said to 182 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 2: Rick earlier today, we kind of live in hope that 183 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 2: our parents, our kids don't experience trauma. But I think 184 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 2: our efforts will be greatly enheartced if we're having a conversation. 185 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree, and I love a good chat with 186 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: the kids while they're in the car. I've got a 187 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,839 Speaker 1: captive audience. They can't get out, so it can get 188 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: deliver a lecture. It's lovely to have you both in 189 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 1: the studio this morning. I really appreciate your time. I 190 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: think it's a wonderful event, and I think it's so 191 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: important for our young people to really understand the consequences 192 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: of their driving actions. You know, I grew up, as 193 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: a lot of people know, in a little town Mount Isa, 194 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: and you know, when I was a young person, there 195 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: were a couple of really terrible fatal crashes. You know. 196 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,839 Speaker 1: One of them took the life of a young fellow 197 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: that we grew up with, that used to be in 198 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: the swimming club with us. Another of those crashes saw 199 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: about four of those teenage boys really seriously injured and 200 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: a couple of them killed. And you know, I've never 201 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 1: forgotten that, and I think that for young people, if 202 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: you can wrap your head around that trauma and what 203 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: can happen when you get behind the wheel of a 204 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: car and the impact that it has and the terrible 205 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: consequence if you don't do the right thing. However, we 206 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: can educate them so that they understand that, I think 207 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: is a really good thing to do. 208 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 3: Cotally agree, and if we could do that in a 209 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 3: way where they're not impacted by losing those friends and family, then. 210 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: That's even better. Yeah, spot on. Well, it's lovely to 211 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: have you both in the studio this morning, Superintendent Rick 212 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: mcgree and also AA and T CEO Simon Matthias. Lovely 213 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: to talk to you both. Thanks so much for your time.