A new hard-hitting CD Rom is being used to warn young drivers about the risks of driving at speed. “A night to remember” demonstrates the type of injuries sustained when a car is crashed at speed. The CD Rom is being distributed to secondary schools and colleges across the borough to encourage pupils to think of the risks that come with a driving licence.
“We cannot over emphasise the devastating effect these crashes can have. Educating all drivers, particularly inexperienced new drivers, is paramount. Studies show that speed is still a major factor in nearly 20% of all accidents involving young drivers. Simply reducing your average speed by 1mph can result in a reduction of 6% in the number of collisions.” said Elaine Eckhardt, Senior Road Safety Officer at the London Borough of Bromley.
Although young inexperienced drivers only hold around 8% of driving licences in London, they are involved in over 18% of all crashes. To highlight these statistics, the Council’s Road Safety Unit and the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) visited students at Bromley and Orpington Colleges. The LSCP’s new Young Driver CD Rom was viewed by pupils to highlight the consequences of driving at high speeds.
The CD Rom forms part of a wider education campaign adopted by the Council’s Road Safety Unit in secondary schools and colleges for the last 15 years. As part of the campaign the unit also run ‘Traffic Education’ courses for new drivers. The courses make those about to start driving lessons more aware of the associated dangers and risks. Research shows that the courses have been hugely successful with only 3% of the youngsters trained going on to be involved in crashes in the Borough.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Accident statistics are sourced from the Greater London database of road traffic accidents involving personal injury, using ‘Stats 19’ reports provided by the Metropolitan and City Police. The database is managed by the London Road Safety Unit.
- The members of the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) are Transport for London, the Association of London Government, the Metropolitan and City of London Police, with Her Majesty’s Courts Service.
- For media enquiries, please contact Amy Bevins, Strategy Development Officer, on 020 8313 4738, or Caroline Townsend, Road Safety Officer on 020 8313 4498 or email amy.bevins@bromley.gov.uk