Young drivers told - Safe Drive, Stay Alive

Produced by Sussex Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service and co-ordinated by East Sussex Fire and Rescue, this is a series of shows targetted at Year 11 and sixth form students.

The shows explore the results of accidents using a DVD reconstruction accompanied by live testimonies from emergency service staff and survivors themselves. These emphasize the dangers young drivers might encounter - such as excessive speed, the use of mobile phones, peer pressure and drink and drugs.

Throughout the shows, the emergency services speak to students about real experiences, driver and passenger reactions, medical implications and how seeing such trauma affects them personally.

Volunteers who themselves have been directly affected by dangerous driving also share their experiences and the long-term effects on their lives.

Young driver statistics show that:

- One in eight (13%) motor vehicle licence holders are aged 25 or under, yet more than a quarter (29%) of motor vehicle drivers killed are in this age group.

- An 18-year-old driver is more than three times as likely to be involved in a crash as a 48-year-old.

- One in five new drivers are involved in a crash in their first year of driving.

In the UK, road crashes are the biggest cause of accidental deaths among the under-20s, therefore the intention behind 'Safe Drive, Stay Alive' is to target young people before they start driving.

By the end of each show it is hoped youngsters will be aware of the necessary skills and attitudes required for both a safe driver and a safe passenger, and will understand the role of the emergency services that deal with road traffic collisions.

The shows will be launched during National Road Safety Week (November 10-16) and will run on various dates and venues until January.