Drink, Drunk, Drive: Why We Must Legislate WebQuest
by Sandra Gardiner
Introduction ·
Question ·
Background Info ·
Individual Roles ·
Group Process
Rubric ·
Conclusion ·
Teacher's Guide
Introduction ·
Question ·
Background Info ·
Individual Roles ·
Group Process
Rubric ·
Conclusion ·
Teacher's Guide
Introduction
The thrill, the excitement - the thought of the wind rushing through your hair as you drive along the freeway. Today you finally got your P-plates. You are free of all restraints. This is an historic moment in your life. You need to celebrate with your mates. The stereo is blasting and you feel as if you don't have a care in the world.
Suddenly, there is a loud noise. Everything is moving in slow motion and you feel an intense pain that you have never experienced before. The noise is deafening and then there is absolute silence.
Fact 1: Road crashes are one of the leading causes of death among young poeple.
Fact 2: Speeding and drink driving are the main causes of motor vehicle accidents.
(Quoted from www.schools.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/schoolsweb/leavingschool/yydp_parentfs.pdf)
An unfortunate trend that has developed is the death of our youth (17-25 years of age) in motor vehicle accidents. There are many opinions as to why this is happening - speed, drink driving, driver inexperience and risk-taking are some suggestions. The effects of motor vehicle accidents are life changing to all involved - the injured, the other driver, parents, family, friends.
As a teenager, it is easy to imagine that this wouldn't happen to you. The reality is, that you are in the largest risk group for road user trauma.
As a group you're going to explore the topic of Drink, Drunk, Drive: Why we must legislate. Each member of your team will become an expert in one part of the topic. Then you'll have to come back together to answer a question that gets to the heart of 'what's the truth and who says so?' We want you to do a good job, so why not read the evaluation rubric for this WebQuest?
The Question
The main question you will be asked to find an answer for is:
'How can the incidence of road deaths among Australia's youth be reduced?'
To answer the question you must demonstrate that you understand present attempts to reduce the problem, as well as the social and emotional issues associated with the problem.
After completing your quest you will need to develop an answer to the above question. The response that you develop will be in the form of a letter to the locoal member of parliament appealing for action to be taken to reduce the road toll amongst Australia's youth. The letter that you develop must represent the opinions of everyone in your group, as well as concisely discussing the issues.
Background Information
Before becoming an expert on one aspect of Drink, Drunk, Drive, we'd better make sure that everyone on your WebQuest team knows the basics. Use the links below to answer the five general questions:
1) Why are there calls for tighter laws on young drivers?
2) How can the introduction of tougher penalties save young people's lives?
3) What strategies are already in place to try and protect youth from becoming road casualties?
4) When were the current blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws introduced?
5) What is the relationship between BAC, speeding and driving?
Make sure everyone on your team can answer all the questions before moving into your individual roles. It is important that we establish the same base level of understanding before we become experts in our field.
Helping Teenagers Become Safer Drivers
NSW RTA Blood Alcohol Limits
NSW RTA Speed Research
Calls for tighter laws on young drivers
Jail for Killer drink driver
Individual Roles
Now that you have some overall background knowledge, it's time to return to the main question for this WebQuest - 'How can the incidence of road deaths among youths be reduced?' Questions this big and important are better answered when a few people are working on it at one time. Things work even better when a group of you decide to look at the question from different perspectives. This way team members can become experts on different aspects of the question and then come together to poll their learning. This is where team work pays off. So are you ready to divide and conquer this question?
Each member of your WebQuest team will take on one of the roles below. To understand the issues, you must look at them from the perspctive of the person you are assigned to be.
Newly Licensed Young Driver
This is an exciting time in any young person's life. The joy of finally being free of parents, of being able to get behind the wheel and to go where you want to go.
Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1) Identify the main contributions to road accidents amongst 17-25 year olds.
2) How would you feel if your car ended up like one of those pictured? Indicate some ways that these accidents could have occurred.
3) Is it feasible for the government to provide breath testing facilities at all venues that serve alcohol?
- Motor Vehicle Accident Picture1
- Motor Vehicle Accident Picture 2
- Motor Vehicle Accident Picture 3
- NSW RTA Drink Driving
- NSW RTA Speeding Research
- This site also provides a link to the 'Please slow down' campaign
- Drink and Don't Drive
- Way to go!
- Alcohol Breath Testing
- Effects of alcohol on the brain
Help Page: Strategy for Analyzing how the Topic Functions, Works or Interacts
Parent
A parent's worst nightmare. Their child has finally been let loose on the streets by themself, behind the wheel of a huge, dangerous piece of machinery.
Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1) How can you educate your child to be a safe driver? What training opportunities are available?
2) What opinions do you have about parents being banned from serving alcohol to their children in a home environment?
3) How do you feel about the leniency given to crimes of motor vehicle accidents?
- Risky driving behaviour in young peoplee
- $1700 for a girl's life
- A dangerous mix
- Adults face ban on giving alcohol to young
- Scott Thomas Lawson
- Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD)
- American Site
Help Page: Strategy for Analyzing the People's Opinions on the Topic
Police Officer
The phone at he station is ringing late on Friday night. It is that dark period of the week - the period where young lives are gone in the blink of an eye. Your first thought when the phone rings is always 'What can we do to slow them down.'
Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1) How is a police investigation on an MVA carried out?
2) What is your role in reducing the incidence of road casualties amongst our youth?
3) What changes need to be made to save the lives of young newly licensed drivers?
- Police Investigations
- Random Breath Testing in NSW
- Driver Training and Licensing
- Alcohol and the Law
- New Laws, Tougher Penalties
- MAC SA Drink driving commercials
Help Page: Strategy for Analyzing the Parts of the Topic
Media
A flash, bright colours, catchy music. Will this make young people buy your product?
Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1) Should media adevrtising of alcoholic beverages be banned? (similar to what happened with cigarettes)
2) Are flash advertising campaigns responsible for the increase in the road toll amongst 17-25 year olds? Why/not?
3) How can the media be held more accountable for the campaigns they design?
- Carlton United Breweries Policy
- Alcohol Advertising - An Industry Perspective
- What's driving our kids to drink?
- Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code
Help Page: Strategy for Analyzing the People's Opinions on the Topic
Politician
Regularly you sit and listen to the arguments that young people are just not learning. They continue to be killed in motor vehicle accidents at a remarkable rate. How responsible are you for the death trap of roads and alcohol?
Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1) How does current legislation promote safe driving?
2) Are there any current developments in the legal system that are aimed at promoting safer driving?
3) How can you improve the roads to decrease the road toll?
- Monthly Traffic Accident Report - October 2003
- Country People are Dying on Country Roads
- TV Advertisement
- Drinking and driving - Ireland
- Drink Driving Legislation in 4 States
- Young Novice Driver Safety
Help Page: Strategy for Analyzing the Parts of the Topic
Group Synthesis
You have all worked really hard so far. Congratulations. But now comes the hard part - putting it all together.
There is no use collecting all this information about teenagers and driving, and only retaining our own perspective of the issue. That provides us with knowledge, but not a true understanding of the topic. Experts in the field of learning suggest that to learn you need to use your newly found knowledge in an exciting and challenging way. That is how true understanding is obtained.
It is now time for you to gather together and consider the main question for your WebQuest. Have you reached a consensus on how road deaths among Australia's youth can be reduced? Or are there a variety of different opinions amongst key stakeholders who are looking for solutions to the issues?
Remember, opinions will differ and debate on topical issues amongst peers is healthy. Use everything available to you - quotes, pictures, movies, facts and opinion - to convince your team that your point of view is an important and valuable part of your team's answer to the question.
After healthy and lively discussion, your WebQuest team will need to write out an answer that everyone agrees with. The answer will need to be well-structured, with your viewpoints, opinion and suggestions structured logically and clearly. Your response to the Quest will then be forwarded to your local member of parliament, as well as the NSW Government Joint Standing Committe on Road Safety.
Organ Donation
Young Drivers and Crashes
Real World Feedback:
Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety (Staysafe).
Ross Cameron - Federal Member for the seat of Parramatta, Ross.Cameron.MP@aph.gov.au
Conclusion
As you started this activity you felt the exhiliration of your first drive in a car - alone. There are many issues that arise as you become the controller of one of these large machines.
Did you discover why young people are dying on our roads? Was there only one reason? Was there agreement in your team about how the incidence of deaths amongst young poeple could be reduced? How did you answer the main question for this WebQuest? Have you checked the evaluation rubric to guide what you did?
Congratulations on a great effort. You have put a great deal of work into finding the answers to these questions. You gained background information, developed expertise in one particular area and got into some pretty expert analysis. At times, you must have felt overwhelmed by the range of opinions and ideas that you were dealing with. You're free! How will you use these ideas and strategies as you move towards obtaining your drivers license and learning how to drive? Good luck on the roads!
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created by Sandra Gardiner email: sandragardiner@yahoo.com.au http://www.web-and-flow.com/members/sgardine/driving10/webquest.htm |