Cyclists, pedestrians, traffic lights and bad weather. Lisa Edwards from Coleg Gwent’s Ebbw Vale Campus knows all these things can affect your driving ability. Lisa won first place in a hazard perception competition run by South Wales Fire & Rescue Service at Coleg Gwent.
Lisa, 30, demonstrated how important it is to be aware of your surroundings in order to stay safe when driving, when the fire service visited the College as part of Brake’s national Road Safety Week in November. Lisa’s keen eye for road safety helped her win a sat nav presented by the South Wales Fire & Rescue Service (pictured).
The competition replicated the format of the hazard perception test that learner drivers have to pass alongside their practical test to get their licence. Students had to identify hazards in a series of video clips showing driving situations involving other road users shot from a car driver’s point of view – from driving in the dark, to staying safe on country lanes.
Ebbw Vale Campus students had a go at identifying hazards – anything that will cause the driver to change speed, direction or stop, with Lisa most able to spot all hazards and gain full marks in the test.
Lisa, a holistic therapy student, was delighted with her prize: “I originally passed my driving test about 10 years ago, but the hazard perception competition has reassured me that my knowledge and skills are up-to-date.”
Road Safety Advisor for South Wales Fire & Rescue Service Katie Allen commented: “It was great to see so many students at the College having a go at our hazard perception competition we were running during National Road Safety week. The Ford Focus ST we use as our road safety initiative has been kitted out with a wide screen TV and an Xbox Kinnect and sound system which allows us to interact with young people who fall into our ‘at risk’ age group of 17-25 year olds.
“The aim of our presentation and road safety vehicle is to educate young drivers on the consequences of irresponsible driving. Congratulations to all who took part.”
Head of Road Safety for Wales Fire & Rescue Service Neil Brown congratulated the students: “I am delighted that Coleg Gwent worked with us to put on this event during such an important week in the Road Safety Calendar. By allowing us to make an attendance with our staff and vehicles, we were able to carry out presentations to hundreds of young people allowing us to highlight the fact to them that they fall within one of our most ‘at risk’ target groups. This in turn gave us the opportunity to impart a number of tips encouraging them to drive in a safe manner.
“It was extremely rewarding to see so many young people taking part and contributing to an enthusiastic response.”
