Students setting the record straight about road safety

The release of a song about road safety created by seven schools across the Moreton Bay Region to coincide with the start of term two is a timely reminder for motorists to slow down around school zones.

The schools banded together to raise awareness about road safety thanks to a grant from the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Moreton District Crime Prevention Unit officer in charge Sergeant Sarah Grayson co-ordinated the unique project and says the end result is a catchy song about road safety captured in a professionally produced YouTube video.

Great way to learn

Working with musician Josh Arnold from Small Town Culture, more than 250 pupils from Scarborough, Deception Bay, Burpengary, Bribie Island, Caboolture East, Woodford and Kilcoy state schools wrote and recorded It’s the Right Way on the Road Today.

“Josh wrote the melody and the chorus and the kids have been working on the verses,” Sgt Grayson says.

“It’s something unique and really enjoyable – it’s such a great way to learn.”

Each school was given a theme for its verse, covering road safety topics such as distractions, pedestrians, cyclists, drink-driving, speeding and seatbelts.

Mr Arnold has worked with students across the country on school songs, awareness campaigns and disaster management videos and says it is exciting to see the projects come together.

Message sinks in

“It’s a great way to get kids involved – they get to take part in something fun and the message sinks in,” he says.

“They’re so enthusiastic and they have some great ideas.

“Each place we go to I spend time with the kids going through the verse and then we start recording and filming.”

Mr Arnold has won a Golden Guitar at Tamworth and has his music played on radio nationally and used in television programs around the world, but says working with students is by far the most rewarding.

“It’s really challenging but very satisfying – it’s amazing how resilient kids are and how they can adapt.”