The Bike Ed Challenge is an annual event held in mid-October, and it has been an integral part of RoadSafe Otway’s programs since 1998. It is an opportunity for primary school students who have completed the Bike Ed Program at school to showcase their riding skills and road knowledge in a competitive course. The challenge invites teams of eight students from different grades and genders, with supervising teachers encouraged to participate as well. The course consists of up to 12 stations where each student demonstrates their riding abilities and understanding of road laws. Points are awarded for correct actions, and the cumulative points determine the winning school, which receives the Perpetual Trophy until the next challenge. Each participating school receives a plaque, and every student is awarded a medallion.
RoadSafe Otway is committed to providing schools with the necessary resources for Bike Ed programs and the Bike Ed Challenge. With over 30 bikes available, specialised equipment has been developed to support these initiatives. To ensure the smooth operation of these programs, three trailers are utilised to transport the bikes and equipment. Regular checks and maintenance are conducted to keep the bikes and trailers in optimal condition. Additionally, RoadSafe Otway strives to replace worn-out or damaged bikes with new ones whenever possible.
As part of its community engagement efforts, RoadSafe Otway organises the Onya Bike program during local community events. This program offers a short bike riding course based on the Bike Ed Challenge for preschool children and early primary school students. It provides an opportunity for these young participants to experience simple yet challenging riding. RoadSafe Otway supplies a variety of small bikes suitable for different heights and abilities to ensure an inclusive experience for all participants.
RoadSafe Otway appreciates, along with Ace Radio, that our community plays host to overseas families and workers. To include these communities, we develop and present short advertisements focusing on distraction and road safety in their language. These advertisements cover various aspects of road behaviour. They are broadcasted throughout the Western District on Ace Radio, reaching a wide audience. Additionally, if feasible, short media messages are produced and projected at local cinemas to further raise community awareness about road safety.
RoadSafe Otway uses a variety of media : newspaper advertisements, stickers, handouts, etc. Included are those prepared by the emergency services. The intention is to reach the widest possible cover for community safety. These materials serve as reminders to people about the many different aspects of safety. Media messages are regularly rotated, and they may be tailored to address specific road safety concerns at different seasons. Prior to their implementation, messages may be trialed in print media to evaluate their impact and design.
RoadSafe Otway has access to three Speed Advisory Machines/Digital Speed Displays (SAMs/DSDs) owned by local councils. These machines measure the speed of vehicles approaching them and can display the recorded speed for the driver’s attention. The speed, time, and date data are collected for evaluation purposes. In the event of persistent speed problems, the police are notified. The locations for these machines are determined based on various factors, including requests from the police, local government, community, and the Department of Transport & Planning.
Please note that these programs are funded for RoadSafe Otway through Department of Transport and Planning, and also from accumulated funds, sponsorships, donations, and grants.
RoadSafe Otway has successfully implemented numerous other programs over the past 30 years. These programs have been designed to address specific local concerns and observations made by our members. or the local community. We continuously strive to develop new initiatives to promote road safety in our community.