Road safety message hits home at Newry school

The horrors of a road traffic crash were brought home to hundreds of teenagers this week at an event designed to promote safer driving in Northern Ireland. As part of our Take Care Get There road safety campaign we spoke to police and school children about the impact road deaths has on families across Northern Ireland. A simulated collision demonstration was played out in front of more than 200 young people at Newry High School in Co Down as part of Road Safety Week. The school is located in the region with the highest number of road deaths this year, with 11 people killed in Newry and Mourne in eleven months. Seventy-three people have died on the roads so far this year compared to 57 fatalities for the whole of 2013. The simulation was staged by the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) in partnership with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Ambulance Service and the Department of the Environment's road safety team. Superintendent David Moore told us the importance in driving home the road safety message: "We've told them the children in graphic detail and showed them the sights and the sounds and the smells of a fatal collision and we've reminded them that's not as bad as it gets. "The casualty left behind misses the worst part, misses the destruction of the family. One of the stories we have been recounting is that there is worse than dealing with the carnage, with the twisted lives, with the screaming casualties. There's the noise unique to a parent when the police have to break the news to a parent that they've lost one of their children." The PSNI also wanted to ensure young people knew the most common causes of road collisions here and across the world. "Every incident is unique, but we do know speeding, driving when impaired through drink or drugs and driving whilst not keeping your full focus are the three principle causes leading to the rising death toll." We asked if this year's death toll is of concern to the PSNI: "Of course it is. We work constantly hard to try and eliminate much of this carnage off the roads as we can and we have had to increase our game to respond to the rising number which has bucked the trend over recent years. "Ultimately enforcement is the final warning for people breaking the law on our roads. "Our officers would much rather be signing a speeding ticket than a death certificate," Superintendent Moore continued. Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: "As recent tragedies have sadly reminded us, road safety is an all-year-round challenge for every single road user. "However, Road Safety Week gives us a chance to focus on how normal life can be destroyed in a split second. "Collectively, the ability to reduce road casualties lies with each of us. We all have a personal responsibility; to ourselves, to other road users and to all of our families and communities. "I would urge all road users to pay extra attention, to never drink or take drugs and drive, to slow down and to always wear your seatbelt. "Look out for fellow road users and help prevent the tragedy of road death and injury from reaching any more families." Speaking to Downtown Radio/Cool FM some of the young people who watched the simulation told us it was hard hitting and made the figures more human. They also said they will think twice about their driving habits Representatives from the Fire Service, PSNI and Ambulance Service all echoed the ministers' messages at the event, which was also attended and supported by Dame Mary Peters.