Teenagers Hear Hard-Hitting Road Safety Message at Strangford College
Teenagers from Ards and North Down were served up a hard hitting road safety message through the award winning Roadsafe Roadshow at Strangford College on 12 December…
The Roadshow, which was devised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland Roads Policing Unit and is supported by AXA Insurance, has picked up a number of prestigious education and training awards.
Recognising that many people aged less than 25 are killed or injured on our roads each year, the Roadshow aims to bring its message to those about to start out on what will, hopefully, be a long and safe motoring career.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Bill Keery, said:
“There have been a number of accidents in our borough in recent weeks and we need all road users to take extra care, especially new drivers who are still gaining experience. The low temperatures and low-lying sun at this time of year can make driving particularly challenging and the Roadsafe Roadshow really hits home the dangers that are present every time we use the roads.”
The Roadshow, which so far has been seen by thousands teenagers across Northern Ireland, depicts graphically how a night out can end in tragedy and permanent disability.
The story is told by a police officer, a paramedic, a fire officer, an Accident and Emergency consultant and a young person, who was paralysed following a horrific collision. The narrative is interspersed with music, video clips and television and cinema advertisements.
Chief Inspector McGrath, said, "The Roadsafe Roadshow has been a major success. We have been able to bring a road safety message to thousands of young people in the highest risk group. I have no doubt that the roadshow shocks, perhaps even horrifies, our young audiences. We make no apology for that.
"We believe that showing realistically just what happens on our roads, has an impact on the students who attend. I hope that after seeing the road show they realise that they are not indestructible; that they are as vulnerable on the roads as the next person and that they must respect the roads and other users".
"One of the hardest parts of any police officer's job is breaking the news of the death or injury of a loved one to relatives. It is especially heartbreaking when that news is of a young person whose whole life lay ahead. Most traffic collisions could have been avoided and we hope that the road show will help young people realise the consequences of their actions".
Councillor Nigel Edmund, Chair of Ards and North Down Police and Community Safety Partnership (PSCP), said:
“Every parent’s nightmare is to hear that knock on the door and to be told that their child has been involved in a road traffic collision. Shocking though it may be, this Roadshow aims to help our young people understand that while they may feel completely in control, they are most at risk of becoming involved in a road traffic collision at the start of their motoring life. I am very pleased that the PCSP is supporting the PSNI to deliver such a serious message in such an effective way.”
For more information about the Roadsafe Roadshow, visit psni.police.uk/advice_information/roads-and-driving/psniroadsaferoadshow.