Community Wheels Section - news (updated 19 May 2010)

Friendship Should Last the Distance

A new campaign has been launched by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to make young drivers understand the importance of driving safely.
The campaign, which is called 'Friendship Should Last the Distance', highlights the importance of young people driving carefully.

It was launched on Monday May 17 at Prospects College, Southend . The campaign will now be rolled out to sixth forms and college across Essex.

Andrea MacAlister, Road safety Partnerships Manager for Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, said: "The campaign is aimed at keeping young people safe on the roads. We are letting young drivers know that driving safely is not only the responsible thing to do but is the best way to keep friends together.

"Bad driving can destroy friendships. Either through the death of a friend or a group shunning someone whose bad driving has caused a death or injury.

"Friendship and respect are very important to young people and this campaign makes them understand how closely those two concepts are linked to responsible driving."

At the launch students were given the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities including a highly realistic driving simulator which is part of the Community Wheels Vehicle.

Fire fighters from Red Watch Southend were also be on hand to show their cutting equipment and talk to young people about their experiences at RTC's.
The campaign will be rolled out to all participating sixth forms and colleges in the County over the coming months.

Young people taking part in the project will have an opportunity to win £50 worth of car safety equipment from Halfords. All of them will come away with useful advice and memories that will last a lifetime.

Last year 123 young people were killed or seriously injured on the roads of Essex. Nationally, statistics have shown that the young driver age group, aged 17 to 25, suffer the highest rate of accidents on the roads.

One in three male drivers between the ages of 17 and 20 are involved in an accident within two years of passing their driving test. Additionally, passengers with young novice drivers run a higher risk of being involved in a serious crash.

A quarter of fatalities in Essex over the past three years have involved younger drivers, and more crashes involve 18-year-olds than any other age group.

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