26 Jan 2010

Kent's emergency services and local authorities are joining forces to tackle the issue of road safety
Kent's emergency services and local authorities are joining forces to tackle the issue of road safety with young drivers.

This multi-agency event, involving a number of workshops, presentations and displays, takes place at The Towers School in Ashford on Thursday, 28 January.

It's designed to cover many road safety issues ranging from drink/drug driving, vehicle maintenance and dealing with different road conditions. There will also be the chance for the sixth form students to experience and see a simulated crash scenario by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS).

Partnering KFRS in this day-long event will be Kent Police, Kent Highways Agency, Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership, Red driving school, South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust and the Local Education Authorities.

KFRS Education Team Leader Andy Bigginton said: "Our crews attend 25 per cent more car crashes than house fires and a large number of those people being cut free are young drivers and their passengers.

"Our demonstration will be quite graphic in the hope of shocking the students into taking care on the roads. Our message is clear: 'cut it out before we have to cut you out!'"

PC Clare Norman, Safer School Partnership Co-coordinator for Ashford, said: "Reducing casualties who are killed or seriously injured on Kent's road networks remains a key priority for Kent Police. We will be talking to the students about the legalities of driving but they'll also get practical advice on car maintenance and can try out a car simulator. We hope to get the message across in a hands-on and useful way."