ROAD trauma has had and will continue to have a profound impact on many people's lives.

So for those young people in the early stages of their driving careers, learning the skills to keep safe on the road is vitally important.

Rotary's RYDA Road Safety program has been promoting this message since 2009 and has already helped more than 6000 young people on their way to being safer behind the wheel.

Program co-ordinator and member of the Rotary Club of Caloundra, Neville Woodforth, said the RYDA program which originally received its name as an acronym of "Rotary youth driving awareness" is now aiming to deliver the program to a further 4500 students over the next three years.

"We have received a Department of Transport and Main Roads road safety education grant of $121,500 to deliver the program," he said.

"We also receive funding from the Sunshine Coast Council and the Federal Government which helps us fund equipment."

The program, which has been recognised as one of the best in Australia, runs as a one-day, six-session program for 1400 Year 11 students from local schools.

Mr Woodforth said this year it had been revamped to help create an even more personalised approach for students.

"It now has more of an emphasis on a person's personality and how this affects their driving," he said.

"It helps them to understand their personality and modify things to help them stay safe."

Mr Woodforth said the students were very grateful for the experience the program provided.

"They are very appreciative of the opportunity and it's a real eye-opener for the students," he said.

"You can learn from text books but nothing beats practical demonstrations.

"It could be a life that is saved in this group and I think that's very worthwhile for the community."

For more information about the program, visit www.rse.org.au.