Award winning roadshow plays to North Down teenagers

Hundreds of teenagers from the North Down area are to be served up a hard-hitting road safety message through an award-winning roadshow devised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Supported by AXA Insurance and hosted by the North Down District Policing Partnership in conjunction with the Marine Court Hotel, the ‘It Could Be You’ Roadsafe Roadshow - which recently picked up the overall award in the Education and Training section of the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award Scheme - was given two outings to sixth-formers in the Marine Court Hotel in North Down today.

The Roadshow, which so far has been seen by more than 10,000 teenagers across the Province, depicts graphically how a night out can end in tragedy and permanent disability.

The story is told by a police officers, a paramedic, a fire officer, an Accident and Emergency consultant, a representative of victim support groups, and 25-year-old Philip Donaghy, from the Magherafelt area, who was paralysed following an horrific collision in the Republic of Ireland four years ago. The narrative is interspersed with music, video clips and television and cinema advertisements.

The District Commander, Superintendent Graham Shields, 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 they 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.”

Councillor Tony Hill, Chairman of North Down District Policing Partnership, commented that following consultation undertaken throughout the Borough of North Down, road safety was a key issue which had been highlighted to the Partnership time after time.

He emphasised that it was hoped the sponsorship of the Roadsafe Roadshow would go some way to addressing the difficulties within North Down in relation to road safety - and help to bring the message home to young drivers that they are not indestructible.

(MB)