Road Safety Wales : Education
Walking to school is on the decline. Since 1999 the Welsh Assembly Government has allocated funding of over £27 million to Safe Routes to School projects. As well as tackling the congestion caused by the school run, the initiative aims to improve the independence and health of children, showing them there are alternatives to the car.
TiE is more than simply a drama performance. It describes a programme, which can comprise a performance supported by active audience participation, often in the form of interactive workshops. These are facilitated by the performers or teachers using a variety of techniques. TiE programmes are often supported by teaching materials designed to encourage further work following the visit, or preparatory work prior to the visit. TiE should not be a one-off, stand-alone intervention but the catalyst for, or reinforcement of, other work. Further information of programmes available in English or the Welsh Language can be obtained from your Road Safety Officer
- Frankie, Jay and Andy are three friends in the prime of their youth. Clubbing, football and hanging out with the girls are just a few of their favourite hobbies – so when Frankie’s girlfriend, Stacey, and her best friend Lucy, agree to join the boys for one of their “big nights out” – arrangements are made to guarantee a good night is had by all. Time to call on Ezee: a friend with contacts who can “sort things out” in order for this to happen.
Plans are made and everything is set for a Friday night to remember. But their evening soon takes a tragic turn when Andy crashes his car en route to the club. In the face of the aftermath, friendships are tested and questions asked, as the group struggle to deal with the consequences of an accident that should never have happened.
Incorporating a unique blend of film and live theatre, Wasted is a powerful and groundbreaking drama, which explores the issue of drug driving within modern youth culture. Aimed at Year 10 and above, this educational drama seeks to address some of the moral issues linked to driving under the influence of drugs.
www.walkingforward.co.uk
- APE Theatre’s production of Mark Wheeler’s award winning drink drive documentary pulls no punches as it tells the harrowing tale of a young woman who kills her sister in an alcohol related road accident. The performance is followed by workshops and has a target age group of 15 and above.
- A drug-drive play aimed at 16 to 21 year olds. The play is documentary - taken from interviews, telling the true story of four 18 year olds who after a weekend of drugs and sleep deprivation at a music festival, crashed horrifically on the motorway in 1997. Two of the victims died; one at the scene of the incident and one after being airlifted to Hospital. This play is APE's first to incorporate video and animation during the performance.
- Part fact/part fiction, Legal Weapon tells the story of a sixth-from couple, Andy and Jazz. Andy’s life is turned upside down when he kills a moped-rider in a high-speed crash and is imprisoned for the crime.The production confronts the issues of excessive speed, peer pressure and attitudes amongst young drivers.
www.apetheatrecompany.co.uk
- Aimed at the 16+ age group, James, Kaz, Lee, Steph and Vince are a group of friends enjoying all that life has to offer. A romance is blossoming, careers are planned, until a tragic accident blights all of their lives. Based on a true story, the play examines the repercussions of an road traffic accident and highlights levels of responsibility for passengers and drivers.
www.walkingforward.co.uk
- This thought provoking drama from Tiny Giants Theatre, targeted at young drivers, aims to address the issues of careless driving and the importance of wearing a seatbelt, as well as raise awareness of the dangers that face young road users.
www.tinygiants.ltd.uk
- deals with the first days of secondary school. The interactive production takes pupils back to a year seven pupil's (Peter) first encounters with secondary school life – the highs, the lows, distractions and dangers. As the story unfolds the audience discuss and affect the outcome of Peter's actions, in the knowledge that they will have a 'Second Chance'. Tragically for Peter, because of a momentary lapse in concentration while crossing the road he is hit by a bus and there is no second chance.
www.tinygiants.ltd.uk
The Mega Drive scheme was originally set up in Gwent in 1995 to address the very serious problem of young drivers being involved in a disproportionate number of road crashes, largely because of their inexperience. Mega Drive is delivered to college age students who will be planning on sitting their practical driving test in the not too distant future and may not be aware of all the potential hazards that come with driving on British roads.
Students participating in Mega Drive visit "interactive workstations" in groups of three where they learn vital information on driving related topics. These include:
- hazard awareness
- essential documents
- crash causation
- effects and consequences of drink and drugs
- buying a new or second hand car
- what to do at the scene of a crash
Year after year the workstation that proves to be the most popular is when the students get the opportunity to get into the drivers seat. They are given the opportunity to drive around a special course whilst accompanied by an approved driving instructor. This often gives the students their first taste of what being behind the wheel is really like.
Mega Drive is also held in the following areas:
Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Ceredigion, Carmarthen.To check availability contact your local Road Safety Officer
Overview
This project consists of road safety presentations delivered by local road safety officers, Police and Fire & Rescue Service staff. It is directed at small groups and is delivered in a rotation of approximately 20 minute duration. Using this format it is possible to engage with approximately 200 plus pupils in a day.
Key points
The programme stresses the positive aspects of driving and the benefits it can bring to young adults. It also allows the team to focus on a variety of issues affecting young drivers such as speeding, peer pressure, seat belts, drink and drug driving and the illegal use of mobile phones.
The presentation is multi format and multi media commencing with a True/False question and answer session designed to test pupils’ current awareness of road safety issues.
Summary
Currently being delivered to schools and colleges, CSI is directed at 16-18 year olds. The messages are hard hitting about the consequences of Road Traffic Collisions, but it offers the students information and strategies to ensure they avoid becoming casualties. These themes are developed through PowerPoint and video presentations and culminates with a 20 minute interactive session centred around an impact vehicle - an idea developed by North Wales Fire & Rescue Service (this is a modern vehicle that was obtained from the Traffic Research Laboratory in Wokingham after it had been submitted for crash testing and is populated with realistic mannequins. This allows the officers to speak with authority and accuracy about the consequences of road traffic collision.
The road show has received very positive feedback in schools and colleges from staff and pupils alike.
- Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue Service and South Wales Police.
Overview
This project takes place over three days in a secure children’s home, in this case Hillside, Neath and involves the Fire & Rescue Service, Police and home staff engaging with young offenders who primarily have a disposition towards arson and vehicle related offences. Police and Fire & Rescue Service do not wear uniform, instead they don a ‘Skills for Life’ T-shirt and jeans. This helps to quickly break down initial barriers between facilitators and students.
Key points
• Six young offenders took part in the programme.
• Their attendance was due to their involvement in fire or car related crimes.
• Four key skill areas are developed on the course - Safety, Communication, Teamwork and the Consequences of their action.
• Facilitators and students combine to complete a series of tasks or skills such as ladder and pump drills, hose running, search and rescue and first aid.
• This proved to be an excellent means of developing the four key skills and of necessity encouraged a relaxed atmosphere with good verbal links between students and facilitators.
• On day three of the course Swansea City Council allow the use of their impact trailer and two specialist officers from the Police and Fire & Rescue Service deliver a hard hitting session about the physical, moral and social consequences of an Road Traffic Collision incorporating well established themes such as drink and drug driving, failing to wear a seat belt and peer pressure.
• The Road Traffic Collision session concludes with a 20 minute session based around an impact vehicle where students are shown the graphic consequences of an accident involving a car and it’s occupants travelling at 40 mph.
Summary
This initiative engages on many levels and evaluation indicates a change in attitude towards Police, Fire & Rescue Services and Road Safety issues. The young offenders also demonstrate an improvement in their understanding of the consequences of their behaviour on the emergency Fire & Rescue Services, communities and themselves.
DangerPoint is a dedicated centre providing hands-on safety education specifically for children and young people but all members of the community can enjoy what's on offer.
DangerPoint is an highly effective way of providing people with the skills to avoid everyday dangers and risks. In this unique controlled environment, people can actually see and hear the hazards they may encounter in real life, but without the risks. The educational experience is linked with PSE curricular activity.
There are two main ways you can experience DangerPoint:
- As a part of an organised school trip: primary and secondary schools
- As an independent visitor: weekends and school holidays
Pedestrian, cyclist and young driver safety. Braking distances etc. Protective and distinctive clothing. Car crime, effects of alcohol and drugs, misuse of mobile phones. Safety as a car passenger.
Find out more
The Rhondda Cynon Taf Safety Zone in Treforest is a mock village allowing children and others in the community to learn about potentially dangerous situations in a controlled environment that mimics real life scenarios.
The new centre on the Treforest Industrial Estate replaces the original Safety Zone that was housed at smaller premises on the estate. The new 10,000 foot square site includes a street with a shop, police station, railway track, forestry, farmyard, electricity sub-station, building site, realistic road accident, recycling, school bus safety site and a fire safety house. A road runs through the centre with a pedestrian crossing and a realistic street corner to assist with road safety awareness sessions.
Wasted