Teenagers shocked after hard hitting road safety show

Julie Kenwell • Published 8 Oct 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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HUNDREDS of teenagers from across Fermanagh received a no-holds-barred road safety message on Thursday last when the award-winning Roadsafe Roadshow came to town.

The ‘It Could be You’ Roadshow, devised by the PSNI and supported by AXA Insurance and Fermanagh District Policing Partnership (DPP) has accummulated numerous education and training awards since its inception. And from the reaction of pupils immediately after last week’s show, it was clear to see why.

It depicts graphically how a night out can end in tragedy and permanent disability, in a bid to hammer home the message that when it comes to getting behind the wheel of a car, safety is paramount,

On Thursday morning, sixth form pupils from schools all over the county filed into the Lakeland Forum’s sports hall amid blaring music and strobe lights, creating a Saturday night clubbing atmosphere.

However the jovial mood was soon sobered when the Roadshow kicked off, setting a more somber tone for the rest of the proceedings.

The Roadshow follows the story of 17-year-old Craig who has just bought a brand new set of wheels. He is heading out for the night with his new girlfriend but the night ends up in disaster when he loses control of the vehicle and crashes.

Interweaved between the storyline, video-footage and music are the emotive stories of a local police officer, paramedic, fire officer, GP, victim suport group representative and the victim of a road traffic accident.

At the outset the narrator of Craig’s story told the young audience, “This will be the most important show of your life.”

She warned that males aged 17 to 24 years were the biggest cause of road carnage in Northern Ireland.

Through heart-rending personal accounts, each of the speakers struck a chord with their audience as they grappled with the horrifying reality of the consequences of driving irresponsibily.

PSNI Constable Ricky Henderson, recalled one of his first call-outs to a road traffic collision.

A 14-year-old boy had been knocked down by a car as he crossed the road to go to school. Constable Henderson said that as he sealed off the scene that morning, knowing that the young boy had died, the mother of the young boy came forward wanting to say her goodbyes to her son.

“That was over 30 years ago and I still remember it, it has stayed with me,” he said.

“When you leave here today and go home and play your Playstation, your Colin McCrea Rally or your Grand Theft Auto, when you crash in that game you will always get to play the reset button but if you crash for real you don’t get that chance.”

A fire officer spoke of how his sister had been killed in a car crash on New Year’s Eve six years ago.

“My crew got the call. We are all very close and know each other’s families. My colleagues didn’t recognise her at the scene,” he said.

A Lisnaskea GP bravely told his own account of being a driver who killed a little girl, and how he had to deal with it. “My own child, who went to the same school as the little girl that had died, came home from school the next week and said ‘Daddy they are saying in school that you killed that wee girl’. Children are very honest, and to some extent I did kill that wee girl - I was the driver of that car. We all have a responsibility to other road users, to our passengers and to ourselves to drive safely,” he said.

But the story that had the greatest impact was that of Lizzie Keyes, who, on her 19th birthday, had been involved in a car crash which left her paralysed. She told the audience she had not been wearing a seatbelt when the car she was travelling in crashed.

“I accepted a lift to head on to another destination for my party. All my dreams and ambitions changed in a split second. At 8am on my 19th birthday I was told I would never stand again -- never take another step. Seven hours earlier I was enjoying myself.

“I lost my independence that night, but I suppose in a way you could say I’m lucky -- I have buried six close friends due to car crashes since then. I easily could have been one of them.”

As the pupils left the hall, many in silence, it was clear that the Roadshow had had the desired effect.

PSNI Inspector Ian Kennedy told the Impartial Reporter that the Roadshow makes no apology for it’s hard-hitting message, adding that it is the impact that is required make young people sit up and listen: “The format of the show hasn’t had to change over the years - it does what it says on the tin.

“I think it is very apparent from the reaction of the pupils when they come out of the Roadshow that this is something that has struck a chord with them. They realise that it is not all just about themselves and fast cars, and that they should be driving in a responsible manner.”

Caoimhe Glynn, Mount Lourdes Grammar School said: “It was really shocking, it really opens your eyes. I passed my test in April last year. I think that was the shock that I needed. It really hit home that it is not worth speeding or being careless on the road and made you realise the responsibility you have when you have friends in the car with you as well.”

Catie O’Dolan, Mount Lourdes Grammar School commented: “It was really shocking. I haven’t got my test yet but this is something that will definitely stick in my mind. It is not something you would forget very easily.”

Keri Burns, St Fanchea’s College remarked: “I thought it was really sad but it really left an impression on me. It was definitely something worthwhile seeing. The way they were all speaking to us about their own experiences, you never really realise how awful it is until you hear it first hand.”

Deborah Armstrong, Collegiate Grammar School said: “It was very very real, they weren’t actors and they were telling their own stories. It wasn’t like in play school when you were told to ‘Stop, look and listen’! This was geared towards our age group. Even the car that they have outside up on it’s roof -- they really have put the message across.”

Rosie Devine, Collegiate Grammar School stated: “It was very effective because they used real life stories and they had the videos and the music, it was very well done.”

Ruth Trimble, Collegiate Grammar School added: “I wasn’t expecting it to be like that at all, I was expecting stalls and brochures but it was really good and very hard-hitting.”

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 07 Oct 10

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