Teenagers from Fermanagh were the recipients of a hard-hitting road safety message through the award-winning Roadsafe Roadshow devised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Roads Policing Unit and supported by AXA Insurance.

The award-winning roadshow was performed to just over 1,200 Sixth Formers at the Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen last Thursday, October 20.

Recognising that young people aged 25 and under are one of the age groups most at risk of being killed or seriously injured on our roads each year, the roadshow aims to bring its message to those about to start out on what will, hopefully, be a long and safe motoring career.

The roadshow, which so far has been seen by thousands of teenagers across Northern Ireland, depicts graphically how a night out can end in tragedy and permanent disability.

The story is told by a police officer, a paramedic, a fire officer, an Accident and Emergency consultant, a young man who was jailed following a serious road traffic collision he was involved in, and a young person who was paralysed following a horrific collision.

The narrative is interspersed with music, video clips and television and cinema advertisements.

Constable Trevor Kirke, the PSNI Roads Safety Education Officer, said, “The Roadsafe Roadshow has been a major success. We have been able to bring a road safety message to thousands of young people in the highest-risk group.

“I have no doubt that the roadshow shocks, perhaps even horrifies, our young audiences. We make no apology for that.

“We believe that showing realistically just what happens on our roads has an impact on the students who attend.

“I hope that after seeing the roadshow, young people realise that they are not indestructible; that they are as vulnerable on the roads as the next person, and that they must respect the roads and other users.

“One of the hardest parts of any police officer’s job is breaking the news of the death or injury of a loved one to relatives.

“It is especially heart-breaking when that news is of a young person, whose whole life lay ahead.

“Most traffic collisions could have been avoided, and we hope that the roadshow will help young people to realise the consequences of their actions,” he added.

Fermanagh and Omagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) Chairman, Councillor Paul Blake, said, “Every parent’s nightmare is to hear that knock on the door and to be told that their child has been involved in a road traffic collision.

“Shocking though it may be, this roadshow aims to help our young people understand that while they may feel completely in control, they are most at risk of becoming involved in a road traffic collision at the start of their motoring life.

“I am very pleased that the PCSP is supporting the PSNI to deliver such a serious message in such an effective way.”

Antoinette McDonald, Customer and Marketing Director at AXA, said: “AXA is delighted to continue to support this compelling and hard-hitting programme.

“As a leading motor insurer, AXA deals with a large number of claims every week as a result of traffic collisions.

“The effects are well documented – too many people are being killed on our roads or are being injured for life.

“Young people are particularly over-represented, and we want to help educate them to be safe and responsible drivers of the future.

“This long-running and highly-successful programme is a great way to assist us to meet this objective.”