Hard-Hitting Road Safety Message Delivered To Young People

Over 800 young people from schools in Lisburn and Castlereagh attended a hard-hitting road safety message at the PSNI Road Safe Roadshow on 19 November.

The roadshow, supported by AXA Insurance and the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership, aims to educate young drivers about the dangers of irresponsible driving. The presentation features real-life stories from police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and individuals who have been affected by road traffic collisions.

By highlighting the devastating consequences of road accidents, the roadshow seeks to encourage young people to make safe and responsible choices on the road.

Constable Teeney of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Road Policing Education team said: "The Roadsafe Roadshow has been a major success and it enables us to bring a road safety message to thousands of young people in the highest risk group. We have no doubt that the road show shocks, perhaps even horrifies, our young audiences.

"We believe that showing realistically just what happens on our roads has an impact on the students who attend. Our hope is 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.

"One of the hardest parts of any police officer's job is breaking the news of the death or injury of a loved one to relatives. It is especially heart-breaking when that news is of a young person whose whole life lay ahead. Most traffic collisions could have been avoided and we hope that the road show will help young people realise the consequences of their actions." Julieann Martindale, AXA's branch operations manager, said: "AXA is delighted to continue its sponsorship of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Road Safe Roadshow which is now entering its 20th year.

"The programme will visit up to 10 locations over the coming six months and more than 8000 students are scheduled to attend. The ongoing tragedies that occur on our roads each and every day emphasise the need for programmes like this. Its hard-hitting and emotional content is a great way of amplifying the risks of dangerous and careless driving to this impressionable age group.

"I compliment the Police Service of Northern Ireland and all involved. Personally, I have sat through the roadshow numerous times and its real-life account of a teenage road fatality is incredibly compelling."

A spokesperson from the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership said: "The Partnership is committed to contributing to reducing the number of collisions and causalities on our roads by preventing and detecting speeding offences. We are now delighted to also sponsor the Roadshow as a means of reaching young people and helping them make safer choices on the roads."

Lisburn and Castlereagh PCSP Chair Councillor Sharon Lowry said, "Every parent's nightmare is to hear that knock on the door and to be told that their child has been involved in a road traffic collision. Shocking though it may be, this Roadshow aims to help our young people understand that while they may feel completely in control, they are most at risk of becoming involved in a road traffic collision at the start of their motoring life. I am very pleased that the PCSP is supporting the PSNI to deliver such a serious message in such an effective way."