South Ayrshire Council News

Councillor Margaret Toner (far right) went to see the production and to meet some of the people who took part.

All senior students attending South Ayrshire Schools were invited by the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership to view presentations of ‘Reckless Driving Wrecks Lives’, a project that addresses the serious consequences of road crashes.

The presentation told the young audience, many of whom will soon be learning to drive, are learning to drive or have just passed their driving test, what happens during and after a serious road crash. It encouraged them to think about the victims, and the impact on friends and relatives whose lives may be changed forever.

Councillor Margaret Toner, Depute Leader of the Council and Chairman of the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership said: “The presentation educates people about the consequences of road crashes and it has an impact on everyone who sees it. One of the most moving parts is when representatives from various agencies describe, in their own words, how they have to deal with seriously injured or dead young people and their families. They let audiences see their human side and tell them how, once they have carried out their professional duties, what they have experienced can affect them personally. Alcohol and drugs can influence the way people drive or act when in a car, reinforcing the message that young people should never get into a vehicle with others who have been drinking or taking drugs. If this initiative saves just one young person from being injured or killed then it has been worthwhile.”

For the first time ever an evening presentation was held, where parents/carers of the students were invited to see the presentation, to give them an insight into what their children had experienced.

The presentations, held at the Odeon Cinema in Ayr, pointed out that some people are killed, whilst others have to live the rest of their lives with the consequences of a crash. Consequences that can include physical disabilities, mental scars, or both and sometimes guilt that they contributed to or caused the crash.

It was explained that every year people are killed or seriously injured in road crashes in South Ayrshire, and that young people driving or travelling in cars during the evening are one of the most likely groups to be involved in a serious road crash.

The production has been so successful that for the third year students from North and East Ayrshire Council schools also attended, with their respective councils making a contribution towards the cost of the initiative.

Students were shown a video of events leading up to young people being involved in a crash, and this was interspersed with people from various agencies coming onto the stage and addressing the audience.

Operational staff representing Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service, and Hospital Accident and Emergency staff described in detail what their duties are when they attended crashes, or have to deal with the aftermath. The presentation tracks the consequences of a single vehicle road traffic crash, and the ripple affect it has on people’s lives.

The South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership is a multi-agency partnership consisting of South Ayrshire Council, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service, Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust and various voluntary groups.

Everyone who attended a presentation of ‘Reckless Driving Wrecks Lives’ was entered into a free draw to win a £150 course of ‘Pass Plus’ driving lesson vouchers. Young people can use the vouchers after they have passed their test to receive six hours of additional driving instruction to further improve their driving skills in such things as night time driving