Safety show completes tour (From Herald Series)

Safety show completes tour

7:00am Sunday 6th December 2009

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Thousands of young adults have had the dangers of speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and driving while drunk, on drugs or while distracted spelled out to them.

For two weeks the Thames Valley Safe Drive Stay Alive team has toured Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, presenting 18 productions at four venues to about 13,000 people aged between 16 and 24.

In each event the audience watches a film about a group of friends who go out and are involved in a fatal car crash.

At appropriate points the film stops and members of the emergency services walk on stage to speak about their experiences of dealing with road traffic collisions.

Parents of car crash victims also speak about how they have been affected by the death of their son or daughter, along with a survivor of a fatal car crash in Windsor and a young motorist who is in jail for his involvement in the death of three of his friends.

This year, a new film made by students at the University of Reading has been used and feedback from those who have seen the production has been positive.

One, who saw the presentation at the Madejski Stadium in Reading, said: “It was extremely moving and had a huge effect on me. My driving test is soon to be booked and I know it will influence my responsibility and my actions when in my car.

“I can say on behalf of myself and my school that our attitudes have changed significantly from seeing one of your shows. Thank you.”

One sixth form tutor said: “I thought Safe Drive Stay Alive was absolutely brilliant. I think it was a really invaluable experience to be a part of and I would like to say well done and thank you.

“A lot of students from our school were very shocked and I think that might have been what it took to make them see the dangers of driving dangerously.”

Bluetooth technology has also been used to broadcast follow-up safe driving messages to audiences, who have also been encouraged to log on to their local Heart FM website, the Safe Drive Facebook page and Twitter feed to enter competitions to win BSM driving lessons and give feedback.

Details of the winners of the driving lessons will be announced shortly.

For more information log on to the safe drive stay alive website or the safe drive 2009 twitter feed www.twitter.com/safedrive09.

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