Maddy Willis and Maddy Atwill showed their determination for students to make good choices around driving with an eye catching and thought stimulating presentation.

SADD is a charity that is dedicated to promoting safe travels on New Zealand roads. The girls state that their age group makes up 4.3% of all licensed drivers in New Zealand, yet young people under the age of 25 have one of the highest fatality rates, especially when it comes to distracted driving. 

The girls put it into the modern student context in Assembly by telling us that on average it takes 4.9 seconds to check a text or a Snapchat. So if you think about this in terms of driving 90km/h on an open road, checking a text is the equivalent to driving the length of a rugby field blindfolded; you are never experienced enough to do this safely.

Checking a text, changing music or going on your phone while driving is a huge and unnecessary risk for any driver, let alone those that are inexperienced.

The car the girls used in the display had a special poignancy as it was involved in a local drink driving accident where the driver crashed into a tree.

The crumpled and disfigured metal not only gave students and staff an early morning wakeup, but when the girls arranged for the Timaru Fire Service to put their grinders and jaws of life to work at lunchtime, the sparks tearing at the alloy flesh and the wrenching metal screeching in pain became a vivid display to help students think three times whilst at the wheel. 

The girls are selling bracelets for students, staff and the community to show their support to help fund SADD activities along with new SADD boards to put in the recently refurbished Hall. They are $4 each or 2 for $6 and available from the College Office.

Along with this, the girls are running a competition for a mystery prize pack for the most creative entry! To enter there are 3 steps you have to follow:  

1. You have to purchase a bracelet

 2. Take a photo of you wearing it and post it on Facebook or Instagram

 3. Hashtag it with #roncallisadd