Student community research project to increase safe driving

The University Centre for Rural Health has partnered this year with STEER (steerproject.org.au). STEER Breathtesting offers festival patrons a free breath test and provides information and resources associated with safe alcohol consumption and safe driving. Western Sydney University medical students on placement in Lismore for 12 months, Johanna Buckland, Prashina Melwani, Mario Fernando and Vanessa Tent,  successfully conducted 450 breath tests and surveys recently at a major NSW music festival. This community research project is a component of their Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery degree, and is being  supervised by Dr Sabrina Pit, Western Sydney University and Mr Phil Preston, President STEER. The medical students are currently analysing the data.  According to Phil Preston, the research results will be very useful to inform further work to be conducted by STEER to increase safe driving.