Young drivers are more at risk than other road users. That is the message being related to youngsters throughout Wrexham next week in the form of a new play that is touring schools throughout North Wales.
The North Wales Road Safety Group has commissioned Walking Forward Theatre Company to create a new bi-lingual theatre production for Years 10/11 to tour all secondary schools in the North Wales region during October and November this year.
The aim is to raise awareness of the dangers associated with being passengers in cars being driven by young and inexperienced drivers. The play shows that young passengers need to adopt robust self-preservation strategies. Passengers should consider whom they get into a vehicle with and remember that there are other options, such as staying with a friend or taking a taxi
Road crashes are the biggest killer of 15-25 year olds in the UK.
One in eight car licence holders are under 25, but one in three drivers who die on our roads are in this age group. It is estimated that 23 young drivers, riders and passengers are killed or injured each day.
A Department of Transport study published in 2004 indicated that the peak age group for passenger fatalities was 16 to 19 – 32% of male passenger fatalities and 18% of female passenger fatalities were in this age group. Research shows that young drivers are much more likely to crash when they have young passengers with them, suggesting that many young people do behave more dangerously simply to impress their mates.
Wendy Davies-Williams Chair of the North Wales Road Safety Group, said: “Reducing road casualties in the 17 to 25 age group is a priority and theatre in education is one of several initiatives being used to do this. The ‘Deadly Mates’ campaign is all about getting young people to think about their manner of driving and for passengers to think carefully about who they travel with.”
Gavin Payne of Walking Forward said: “We are delighted to be commissioned to write and produce this production to address a vitally important topic. Walking Forward has been revolutionary in its use of multi-media within its dramas, incorporating high quality video which again features in the ‘Deadly Mates’ production. It is intended for the production to be rolled out across many areas of the UK and Ireland in the coming months”.
For further information please contact Wendy Davies-Williams Assistant Road Safety Officer, on 01978 297142.
