Leek College students are learning all about how to drive more safely and be safer passengers this week in a bid to reduce young driver casualties across Staffordshire.
Presentations are being delivered by Road Safety Officer Kevin Wilcox from Staffordshire County Council to over 300 students at the College (on Monday, 20th February and Wednesday, 22nd February 2012).
The sessions, which include a 30 minute DVD produced by Gwent Police, focus on the dangers of using a mobile phone in the car and not wearing a seatbelt, along with the consequences on individuals, family and friends of having an accident.
They are aimed not only at drivers, but also young passengers - with the aim of promoting positive peer pressure on the road.
Over the last 3 years, 31% of all road casualties across Staffordshire were aged between 16-25 years, and of those 8% (or 246) were killed or seriously injured.
Kevin said: “With many young people just starting out on the road, it’s a crucial age to get them involved and thinking about road safety issues along with the consequences of being involved in a road traffic collision.
“So far, we have had excellent feedback from both students and teachers in response to the presentation and DVD, which is modern, professional and impactful, and has in my opinion almost certainly made a difference to the young people who have watched it.”
Staffordshire County Council is currently rolling out the road safety presentations to schools and colleges across the county.