Now, the Northern Territory's largest road safety event for youth is happening this Thursday, and thousands of local high school students are set to take part in Street Smart High. It is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year as well. The event's delivered well, it has delivered a number of local agencies. It's delivered buyer should say a number of local agencies, including the Northern Territory Police and AAENTT Now it features a simulated crash scene with real vehicles and emergency services to bring those road safety lessons to life. It is such an important event for our young people. And joining me in the studio right now, well from the Northern Territory Police, I've got Superintendent Rick mcgree Good morning to you, Rick, Yeah, really good, lovely to have you in the studio. And we've also got ant CEO Simon Matthias. Lovely to see you as well, Simon, good to have you both in the studio. Now. Look, I think this is a wonderful events, something that happens every year, celebrating its fifth anniversary. Now for those who've never been or don't know a lot about it, Simon, I might go to you first tell us a little bit more about the event and who'll be there.

Now, the Northern Territory's largest road safety event for youth is happening this Thursday, and thousands of local high school students are set to take part in Street Smart High. It is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year as well. The event's delivered well, it has delivered a number of local agencies. It's delivered buyer should say a number of local agencies, including the Northern Territory Police and AAENTT Now it features a simulated crash scene with real vehicles and emergency services to bring those road safety lessons to life. It is such an important event for our young people. And joining me in the studio right now, well from the Northern Territory Police, I've got Superintendent Rick mcgree Good morning to you, Rick, Yeah, really good, lovely to have you in the studio. And we've also got ant CEO Simon Matthias. Lovely to see you as well, Simon, good to have you both in the studio. Now. Look, I think this is a wonderful events, something that happens every year, celebrating its fifth anniversary. Now for those who've never been or don't know a lot about it, Simon, I might go to you first tell us a little bit more about the event and who'll be there.

Okakatie. So it's been going since twenty and twenty one, so this is our fifth year and this year we'll see a fifth sorry, five thousandth student go through the doors. And this year we've actually got a record number of registrations. We've got around eighteen hundred, year eleven and twelve and a few year tens as well students coming through, mostly from the Greater Darwin area. There's also about one hundred teachers accompanying them. So over the past five years we've had you know, as I said, five thousand people attending. So it is probably the number one youth road safety initiative in the territory and we'd like to think it's certainly having a positive impact on the driving behaviors of young people, which is really what it's all about. And yeah, it should be. It should be a good event. As you've mentioned, you know, there's there's a simulated car accident scene that starts, you know, with a kind of a social occasion and it goes through you know, through through to a car accident and then the consequences play out. So it's quite a confronting thing to experience. I went to my first one last year and it certainly left a lasting impression. And obviously that's the objective.

Okakatie. So it's been going since twenty and twenty one, so this is our fifth year and this year we'll see a fifth sorry, five thousandth student go through the doors. And this year we've actually got a record number of registrations. We've got around eighteen hundred, year eleven and twelve and a few year tens as well students coming through, mostly from the Greater Darwin area. There's also about one hundred teachers accompanying them. So over the past five years we've had you know, as I said, five thousand people attending. So it is probably the number one youth road safety initiative in the territory and we'd like to think it's certainly having a positive impact on the driving behaviors of young people, which is really what it's all about. And yeah, it should be. It should be a good event. As you've mentioned, you know, there's there's a simulated car accident scene that starts, you know, with a kind of a social occasion and it goes through you know, through through to a car accident and then the consequences play out. So it's quite a confronting thing to experience. I went to my first one last year and it certainly left a lasting impression. And obviously that's the objective.

Well, that's what you want it to do, right, We want to make sure that our young people are safe when they get into a vehicle. I mean, Rick, as a police officer, you've been a police officer for quite a long period of time. Some of the things that you see, some of the different crashes that I'm sure you've gone out to over the years, it's really important that kids do actually get that message. And I don't know if frightening them into getting you know, like, I don't know if that's the right word, but I'm happy for that to happen, for my kids to be really bluntly honest about it, because I want them to be safe when they get into a car.

Well, that's what you want it to do, right, We want to make sure that our young people are safe when they get into a vehicle. I mean, Rick, as a police officer, you've been a police officer for quite a long period of time. Some of the things that you see, some of the different crashes that I'm sure you've gone out to over the years, it's really important that kids do actually get that message. And I don't know if frightening them into getting you know, like, I don't know if that's the right word, but I'm happy for that to happen, for my kids to be really bluntly honest about it, because I want them to be safe when they get into a car.

Yeah, one hundred percent. And it's not so much about frightening them, but it is the reality of what a crash scene looks like. And all the feedback I've got from my team, who unfortunately have to go to these things every day, the feedback from them is that it's so realistic. So if you can get that reality of what that looks like, feels like, smells like to these young kids, then that's a really good way for them to really see the reality of it and hopefully learn from it.

Yeah, one hundred percent. And it's not so much about frightening them, but it is the reality of what a crash scene looks like. And all the feedback I've got from my team, who unfortunately have to go to these things every day, the feedback from them is that it's so realistic. So if you can get that reality of what that looks like, feels like, smells like to these young kids, then that's a really good way for them to really see the reality of it and hopefully learn from it.

Well, and you and I both got teenage girls, I like, we've got teenage kids. All of us have got kids. You want to make sure that they are educated and they know the impact they're jumping into a car with somebody who's maybe intoxicated or under the influence, or somebody who's speeding, or somebody that's on their phone, all the different you know, all the different things that you can do that can impact the way in which you drive.

Well, and you and I both got teenage girls, I like, we've got teenage kids. All of us have got kids. You want to make sure that they are educated and they know the impact they're jumping into a car with somebody who's maybe intoxicated or under the influence, or somebody who's speeding, or somebody that's on their phone, all the different you know, all the different things that you can do that can impact the way in which you drive.

Yeah, exactly, and you'd know as well as as we do that. You know, definitely parents have a role to play, but with kids these age this message is a lot better delivered from other people. So you know, if they can get this experience, it's it's absolutely a great opportunity for them to pick that up.

Yeah, exactly, and you'd know as well as as we do that. You know, definitely parents have a role to play, but with kids these age this message is a lot better delivered from other people. So you know, if they can get this experience, it's it's absolutely a great opportunity for them to pick that up.

Simon, was it the AA and T that came up with the idea of holding this event.

Simon, was it the AA and T that came up with the idea of holding this event.

It was, so we worked closely with RAA in South Australia, so they started it and they support us running the event, so we do manage it, but that there's A few people have arrived this morning actually from Raa in Adelaide to help us. So it's now run by most car clubs around the country. So it's certainly one that's been picked up and embraced by pretty much every car club. And I think the reason it is it is so popular is, as Rick has said, it's an event that kind of sticks with people. It's hard to capture the attention of a year eleven student. Now, my son attended two years ago and hit. The feedback I got was that, you know, this is actually something I'll remember, and it's actually I think, something I think about when I get behind the wheel of a car, which is exactly.

It was, so we worked closely with RAA in South Australia, so they started it and they support us running the event, so we do manage it, but that there's A few people have arrived this morning actually from Raa in Adelaide to help us. So it's now run by most car clubs around the country. So it's certainly one that's been picked up and embraced by pretty much every car club. And I think the reason it is it is so popular is, as Rick has said, it's an event that kind of sticks with people. It's hard to capture the attention of a year eleven student. Now, my son attended two years ago and hit. The feedback I got was that, you know, this is actually something I'll remember, and it's actually I think, something I think about when I get behind the wheel of a car, which is exactly.

What that's exactly what you want. Now, I know that there's students, you know, they're also going to hear from people whose lives have been affected by crashes as well, aren't they.

What that's exactly what you want. Now, I know that there's students, you know, they're also going to hear from people whose lives have been affected by crashes as well, aren't they.

Yes, So we will have a number of presenters who will talk about their own experience and each of their each presenter has a very different experience. But it's really I guess the central message, Katie is that a split, split second decision can have lifelong consequences, and that's certainly certainly a message that anti police are consistently sending. We think it's it's worth having people who have actually that lived experience to tell their story so so that kids can see right in front of their eyes, you know, exactly how things can.

Yes, So we will have a number of presenters who will talk about their own experience and each of their each presenter has a very different experience. But it's really I guess the central message, Katie is that a split, split second decision can have lifelong consequences, and that's certainly certainly a message that anti police are consistently sending. We think it's it's worth having people who have actually that lived experience to tell their story so so that kids can see right in front of their eyes, you know, exactly how things can.

Turn one hundred percent Rick in terms of how we're going in the Northern Territory at the moment, I mean, how is how many lives have been more so far on our roads.

Turn one hundred percent Rick in terms of how we're going in the Northern Territory at the moment, I mean, how is how many lives have been more so far on our roads.

So so far this year, Katie, we've lost six lives, so that is a lot, but in comparison to where we were last year this time last year was fifteen, so six is still way too many. But definitely we are seeing some better attitudes on the roads. And you know, really that goes down to decisions people are making every day.

So so far this year, Katie, we've lost six lives, so that is a lot, but in comparison to where we were last year this time last year was fifteen, so six is still way too many. But definitely we are seeing some better attitudes on the roads. And you know, really that goes down to decisions people are making every day.

I mean, when you look at young drivers, are they the most vulnerable on our roads?

I mean, when you look at young drivers, are they the most vulnerable on our roads?

It is interesting. So I think when people first start out, they're very cautious and that's a really good thing. Obviously they lack that experience. It's more young people that we find, so I'll caveat that with sort of that under twenty five. So it's really important important to get to these kids at the start of their driving journey to try and you know, give them the information to make better decisions while they are still young. So we consider sort of young people that under twenty five sort of category.

It is interesting. So I think when people first start out, they're very cautious and that's a really good thing. Obviously they lack that experience. It's more young people that we find, so I'll caveat that with sort of that under twenty five. So it's really important important to get to these kids at the start of their driving journey to try and you know, give them the information to make better decisions while they are still young. So we consider sort of young people that under twenty five sort of category.

And I think there's some unique challenges about driving up in the NT as well. Kids need to be aware of you know, seventy percent of our roads are unsealed. You know, we encounter things like road trains, which which are animals, animals which which are things that perhaps people in other states and territories don't encounter as regularly.

And I think there's some unique challenges about driving up in the NT as well. Kids need to be aware of you know, seventy percent of our roads are unsealed. You know, we encounter things like road trains, which which are animals, animals which which are things that perhaps people in other states and territories don't encounter as regularly.

Yeah, it's spot on. Like you know, you see all sorts of things out on the roads in the Northern Territory, don't you When you go for a drive. You see in Kangaroo. You know, I've seen EMUs in different locations, all sorts of things. So you've got to make sure that you do take some extra care.

Yeah, it's spot on. Like you know, you see all sorts of things out on the roads in the Northern Territory, don't you When you go for a drive. You see in Kangaroo. You know, I've seen EMUs in different locations, all sorts of things. So you've got to make sure that you do take some extra care.

Yeah, and that's the thing. So, like as I touched on before, these kids really lack experience when they're starting out on their journey. But if we can get their driving attitude right, yeah, and that's you know the big part of the puzzle.

Yeah, and that's the thing. So, like as I touched on before, these kids really lack experience when they're starting out on their journey. But if we can get their driving attitude right, yeah, and that's you know the big part of the puzzle.

What about phones? Like how big an issue is that because kids are glued to their phones these days, I mean, like they is that a concern as well when they do get their licenses.

What about phones? Like how big an issue is that because kids are glued to their phones these days, I mean, like they is that a concern as well when they do get their licenses.

One hundred percent, And that's really something that is easy to fix and it's just about forming those right habits. That's what we can do as parents to really, you know, set a great example. So for me, it's always in the car phone, in the glove box, you know, the Santa console, and the kids see that and they sort of see that, you know, it's not something that we're going to play with or whatever. So yeah, as parents, that's what we can do. But definitely, while you've got that period with your kids when they're learning how to drive, get that message through that it's such a huge distraction.

One hundred percent, And that's really something that is easy to fix and it's just about forming those right habits. That's what we can do as parents to really, you know, set a great example. So for me, it's always in the car phone, in the glove box, you know, the Santa console, and the kids see that and they sort of see that, you know, it's not something that we're going to play with or whatever. So yeah, as parents, that's what we can do. But definitely, while you've got that period with your kids when they're learning how to drive, get that message through that it's such a huge distraction.

Yeah, make sure you do the right thing in front of them. Is there a certain theme this year for the event.

Yeah, make sure you do the right thing in front of them. Is there a certain theme this year for the event.

Yes, Katie. So what we want people to do, and including parents, is to have what we're referring to as the elephant in the room conversation. So the elephant in the room is the thing that we all know is there but no one wants to talk about. And the Fatal Five are the elephants in the room. So we've actually got five inflatable elephants. Each one represents one of the fatal five. So you know, distracted driving, speeding, drink driving, etc. And so for the parents listening this morning, what we'd like to do is to bring up, you know, the conse have the conversation with their kids, maybe after the event on Thursday, get their feedback, and start having the discussions around the dining room table around road safety. Because we're of the view that it's a conversation that we just don't have. We kind of, as I said to Rick earlier today, we kind of live in hope that our parents, our kids don't experience trauma. But I think our efforts will be greatly enheartced if we're having a conversation.

Yes, Katie. So what we want people to do, and including parents, is to have what we're referring to as the elephant in the room conversation. So the elephant in the room is the thing that we all know is there but no one wants to talk about. And the Fatal Five are the elephants in the room. So we've actually got five inflatable elephants. Each one represents one of the fatal five. So you know, distracted driving, speeding, drink driving, etc. And so for the parents listening this morning, what we'd like to do is to bring up, you know, the conse have the conversation with their kids, maybe after the event on Thursday, get their feedback, and start having the discussions around the dining room table around road safety. Because we're of the view that it's a conversation that we just don't have. We kind of, as I said to Rick earlier today, we kind of live in hope that our parents, our kids don't experience trauma. But I think our efforts will be greatly enheartced if we're having a conversation.

Yeah, I agree, and I love a good chat with the kids while they're in the car. I've got a captive audience. They can't get out, so it can get deliver a lecture. It's lovely to have you both in the studio this morning. I really appreciate your time. I think it's a wonderful event, and I think it's so important for our young people to really understand the consequences of their driving actions. You know, I grew up, as a lot of people know, in a little town Mount Isa, and you know, when I was a young person, there were a couple of really terrible fatal crashes. You know. One of them took the life of a young fellow that we grew up with, that used to be in the swimming club with us. Another of those crashes saw about four of those teenage boys really seriously injured and a couple of them killed. And you know, I've never forgotten that, and I think that for young people, if you can wrap your head around that trauma and what can happen when you get behind the wheel of a car and the impact that it has and the terrible consequence if you don't do the right thing. However, we can educate them so that they understand that, I think is a really good thing to do.

Yeah, I agree, and I love a good chat with the kids while they're in the car. I've got a captive audience. They can't get out, so it can get deliver a lecture. It's lovely to have you both in the studio this morning. I really appreciate your time. I think it's a wonderful event, and I think it's so important for our young people to really understand the consequences of their driving actions. You know, I grew up, as a lot of people know, in a little town Mount Isa, and you know, when I was a young person, there were a couple of really terrible fatal crashes. You know. One of them took the life of a young fellow that we grew up with, that used to be in the swimming club with us. Another of those crashes saw about four of those teenage boys really seriously injured and a couple of them killed. And you know, I've never forgotten that, and I think that for young people, if you can wrap your head around that trauma and what can happen when you get behind the wheel of a car and the impact that it has and the terrible consequence if you don't do the right thing. However, we can educate them so that they understand that, I think is a really good thing to do.

Cotally agree, and if we could do that in a way where they're not impacted by losing those friends and family, then.

Cotally agree, and if we could do that in a way where they're not impacted by losing those friends and family, then.

That's even better. Yeah, spot on. Well, it's lovely to have you both in the studio this morning, Superintendent Rick mcgree and also AA and T CEO Simon Matthias. Lovely to talk to you both. Thanks so much for your time.

That's even better. Yeah, spot on. Well, it's lovely to have you both in the studio this morning, Superintendent Rick mcgree and also AA and T CEO Simon Matthias. Lovely to talk to you both. Thanks so much for your time.