Newbury Today | Driving home road safety

Thursday 2nd September 2010

News Feed
What’s a news feed?

NewburytodayTV

Forum

Traffic alert!

	No known problems
	RSS feed for all confirmed events on the M4

newbury business oday

NWN online publications

Click here to see NWN and other online publications

Entertainment

Select Cinema
Select Film

Eye on newbury

Check out live web cams in Newbury

FIND IT!

Click here for your guide to local businesses & services

News

	Driving home road safety Sun, December 24 2006 By Reporter, newburytoday.co.uk Email: newburytoday@newburynews.co.uk Phone: 01635 564631 More News \| Back to homepage

Newbury firefighters help raise awareness of the dangers on the road for new and young drivers

FIREFIGHTERS from Newbury have been driving home a road safety message to youngsters this Christmas.
Around 20 learner drivers, from the Peter Skelton School of Motoring, took part in a presentation at Newbury Fire Station recently about the dangers of inappropriate driving.
Most of the audience were shocked to discover the high percentage of traffic collisions that involve young or new drivers across West Berkshire.
There were also very few of them who realised that they could lose their licence with only six points in the first two years of driving.
A video demonstration then graphically showed how easy it was to lose concentration or be careless at the wheel and the devastation it can cause.
After explaining the role of the emergency services and the importance of the ‘golden hour’, the fire crew simulated a car crash.
A volunteer squeezed into a smashed up car and was rescued by Blue Watch


		Three hours of your night is not much to save your life Martin Hitchcott

.
Even though it was set up the volunteer was left slightly shaken by the experience and all the learner drivers agreed it wasn’t something they wanted to experience again.
Andrina Douglas said the Young and New Drivers Awareness Programme was “extremely beneficial” and she would recommend it to others, while Rebecca Murphy admitted she was “shocked” by what she had discovered.
James Moorecroft said he believed the course should be compulsory for all new drivers and driving instructor Peter Skelton said he thinks it will have a great impact on how youngsters drive.
“I am glad I attended and would advise others too,” added Martin Hitchcott. “Three hours of your night is not much to save your life.”
If you would like to attend a New and Young Drivers Awareness course you can talk to your driving instructor or phone Sub officer Michael Griffiths at Blue Watch Newbury Fire station on 01189 322304.

More News | Back to homepage