Wiltshire students encouraged to Safe Drive Stay Alive

Over 6,000 Year 11 students from across Wiltshire will experience a hard-hitting road safety presentation over the coming few weeks.

The Safe Drive, Stay Alive roadshow uses a video reconstruction of a road traffic collision with on-stage testimonies from serving members of the emergency services, parents of young people who have lost their lives, and those whose lives have been irreversibly changed by being involved in road traffic collisions. The students who see the show are left very aware of their personal vulnerability and accountability as new drivers.

The presentation has already been taken to Trowbridge and Chippenham, and it will be at Salisbury City Hall on 17-18 November. Dates in Devizes, West Lavington and Marlborough will follow later this month.

Safe Drive Stay Alive is led and primarily co-ordinated by Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, and is well supported by other major partners, including Wiltshire Police, Great Western Ambulance Service, Wiltshire County Council, Swindon Borough Council, Roadpeace and road safety charity Brake.

its launch in 2006, the roadshow has been seen by thousands of students - and the organising team is hoping that it will soon be essential viewing for every school in Swindon and Wiltshire.

Ian Hopkins, Road Safety Manager at Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, explained: “Safe Drive, Stay Alive is successful because it’s real, it’s delivered by real people with real stories to tell and no actors are used. It’s a highly emotional experience - both for the audience and for those who courageously revisit and honestly share the most devastating aspect of their personal lives. We know that it makes a difference, which is why we want every student to see it. I am very grateful to the schools that are supporting us this year, and I hope we can convince those not taking part to change their minds for 2009.”

Comments received by students who saw the roadshow in 2007 included: “Very good presentation, really made me think”; “I’m speechless, it has made me re-think”; “Really thought-provoking and really made an impact on me”; and “Effective, should definitely become compulsory, nobody could watch that and then not think about driving safely or irresponsibly.”

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