STUDENTS LEARN OF DANGEROUS DRIVING RISKS

Belfast Telegraph Home > News > Northwest EditionStudents learn of dangerous driving risksSTUDENTS LEARN OF DANGEROUS DRIVING RISKS
By Claire McNeilly13 September 2005
Young students in the North West are being warned about the risks of dangerous driving as the death toll on local roads continues to climb.
A demonstration warning Year 11 pupils of the dangers took place yesterday at St Joseph's Boys' School in Londonderry.
The display, supported by Gerry Lee of PR Hanna Solicitors, comes after the latest PSNI statistics revealed that eight people were killed and 61 injured on the roads in the Foyle area last year.
Pupils watched as three of their sixth form colleagues and the emergency services demonstrated the effects of a fatal car accident.
One of the pupils was also used to portray how the Fire Brigade sometimes has to cut people from the wreckage of a vehicle.
Another pupil showed how the ambulance service deals with people who have sustained serious spinal injuries in a car crash.
The afternoon saw more displays, including one in which a pupil pretending to be the driver was fingerprinted, photographed, interviewed and charged by investigators.
A mock remand hearing was then staged showing how someone suspected of causing death by dangerous driving will be treated.
Gerry Beattie, senior teacher at St Joseph's and course co-ordinator thanked those who gave their support for the course, including Constable Neville Martin and Gerry Armstrong, as well as the fire, ambulance and court services.
Area Commander Eoin Doyle, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said it welcomed the opportunity to work with partner agencies, the other emergency services and the local community to highlight the problem of road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland.
Foyle District police commander, Chief Superintendent Richard Russell said:
"We welcome this project and hope it will help spell out to young people the need to drive responsibly and the dangers of driving cars that are not roadworthy, and also the consequences that they face." from: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northwest_edition/story.jsp?story=661399