14 November 2008

Around 5,000 sixth-formers and college students have attended one of seven performances of a potentially life-saving film and theatre production, Safe Drive Stay Alive, in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes this week. The final one was held yesterday in Milton Keynes.

The presentations explore the circumstances that can lead to a car crash and the consequences that follow. They took place at the Wycombe Swan Theatre on Monday and Tuesday and the stadium:mk in Milton Keynes on Wednesday and Thursday.

The central theme is a film showing four young people on a night out. Their car crashes as they are on their way to a local club. As the events unfold and members of the emergency services arrive on scene, real people step out on to the stage.

While the film is freeze-framed, the police officer, paramedic, firefighter or accident and emergency consultant then talks about what happens in real life, along with the medical implications and how seeing such trauma affects them personally.

The campaign is run by Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service, South Central Ambulance Service, hospital accident and emergency staff, road safety officers and the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership.

Presentations included input from Crew Manager Chris Firmin from Aylesbury Fire Station, which he prepared with his colleagues from White Watch, and parents whose children have died in car crashes locally in recent years.

In the most recent year for which data is available – 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 – there were 2,527 road traffic collisions recorded in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes by Thames Valley Police. They led to 46 deaths, 412 serious injuries and 3,284 minor injuries. (Source: Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority draft Integrated Risk Management Plan 2009-12, page 13).

Statistics also show that young people between the ages of 17 and 24 are most at risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road traffic collision. They accounted for nearly a quarter of the total for the whole of the Thames Valley area in 2007.

Keith Wheeler, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s road safety manager, who has helped organise the presentations, said: "No punches are pulled, and no emotions are spared with these presentations. This is a huge campaign and we are hoping we can really make a difference.

“Many students were visibly moved by the productions. Hopefully the key safety messages will remain with them and help them to drive safely”.

For more information on Safe Drive Stay Alive, visit www.safedrive.org.uk

Participating schools and colleges - Wycombe Swan Theatre

Amersham & Wycombe College
Aylesbury College
Aylesbury Grammar School
Aylesbury High School
Beaconsfield High School
The Beaconsfield School
Burnham Grammar School
Burnham Upper School
Chesham Park Community College
Dr Challoner's High School
Great Marlow School
Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School
Holmer Green Senior School
Langley Grammar School
The Misbourne School
Princes Risborough School
Royal Grammar School
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Sir William Ramsay School
Stony Dean School
Waddesdon C of E School

Participating schools and colleges - thestadium:mk

The Buckingham School
The Cottesloe School
Leon School
Lord Grey School
Milton Keynes College
Ousedale School
The Radcliffe School
Royal Latin School
Shenley Brook End School
Sir Frank Markham School
Stantonbury Campus