Road Safety Roadshow returns to schools in Wiltshire

The ‘Safe Drive Stay Alive’ roadshow has returned to the schools of Wiltshire to ensure its life-saving messages still reach young people.

Covid-19 meant the flagship road safety programme, which is aimed at Year 11-13 students had to be delivered digitally. Now that restrictions have been lifted, schools once again have the option to view the presentation live.

The presentation, which is coordinated by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) on behalf of Wiltshire & Swindon Road Safety Partnership and Dorset Road Safe, uses powerful personal testimony and video footage to make the audience aware of the tragedy and suffering caused by road traffic collisions. Firefighters, medics, police officers, bereaved parents and people who have been directly involved in such incidents recount their stories.

Christine Sharma, Road Safety Manager at Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said, “Our brave speakers are all local to our service area and have experienced the reality of road traffic collisions, whether as a member of the emergency services, as a victim or as a parent who has lost a child. It is this reality that makes it so successful.

"We’ve learned and adapted a great deal over the last 12-18 months, incorporating more behaviour change theory and including tools to help empower young people to make the right choices both as passengers and drivers. We are excited about returning to schools and adapting these to our live delivery".

Safe Drive Stay Alive held its first live Wiltshire roadshow on 30th September at the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, and more have been held and booked for schools across the county throughout the academic year.

The relaunch of the roadshow wouldn’t be possible without the help and support from Arval UK.

Ailsa Firth, HR Director and Community Lead at Arval UK, said: “As a leading provider of sustainable mobility we consider our role on safety seriously. Now restrictions have lifted, we’re proud that our long-term support for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service has enabled the ‘Safe Drive, Stay Alive’ events to recommence live and in person across Wiltshire, to help keep more young people safe on the road.

“Ongoing support is vital to community services such as these which are reliant on additional funds to enable these important roadshows to take place. Our colleagues will now also be volunteering to help at the events themselves and it’s this sort of joint approach that makes for such a strong relationship with the Fire and Rescue service, whilst helping young people in local communities across the region".

If you would like to book the roadshow for your school, please contact Mandy Pantall on mandy.pantall@dwfire.org.uk. Road safety education can also be adapted for businesses.

To find out how the roadshow can help you keep your staff safe and meet your corporate social responsibility, whilst you can help us sustain delivery, please contact Christine Sharma on 07771 594981.