East Sussex youngsters are warned of dangerous driving through new film

The East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has partnered with Sussex Police, Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and South East Coast Ambulance Service to make Safe Drive Stay Alive.

The services have said this year the event will be running in a virtual format and will try to make young people understand the potential impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on our road safety initiative.

The aim of the project is to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads of East Sussex by showing the consequences of getting involved in a road collision.

By specifically showing these dangers to young people, it targets the age group that is either learning to drive, have just passed their test, or are becoming passengers with their friends who are already driving.

Serving members of the emergency services give real-life accounts of local incidents they have witnessed - making it a ‘highly emotional experience’ according to the fire service.

Between January and December 2019, there were 95 16-24 year-olds killed or seriously injured on the roads of East Sussex – that is eight per month.

This year between January and July, despite lockdown meaning less traffic on the roads, there were 43 people from this age group killed or seriously injured on the roads of East Sussex – six per month.

The 30-minute presentation will be sent to schools, colleges and home-educated students across East Sussex.

David Kemp, strategic community safety manager, said, “The Covid pandemic has meant that we have had to redesign all of our long running projects and cater them to be delivered in an alternative way. Safe Drive Stay Alive is no exception and when it became apparent that we would be unable to deliver the usual theatre-based presentations, our road safety coordinator Susan Taylor set about designing an online version.

“Susan worked in conjunction with First Car to create the show and with the RAC Foundation to develop and roll out the evaluation.”

A spokesperson for East Sussex Fire & Rescue said, “This important road safety initiative sends such a valuable and powerful message to young drivers and their passengers and we urge all young drivers to watch this hard-hitting video.”

Anyone wanting access to the video can email [email protected]