College stages car crash to warn young drivers of speeding dangers

THEY were drunk and speeding, daring each other to go faster, when their car crashed into another vehicle.

Seconds later, a boy was dead, a woman had spinal injuries and another boy was looking at years in jail.

Fortunately, all the people involved were actors in a driver awareness day organised by the emergency services at Bishop Burton College.

But the message from police and fire officers was clear – for young, risk-taking drivers, this could be all too real.

"We're trying to make young drivers aware that it's not just themselves or their passengers who are affected by a serious crash," said Shamus Harrison, a crew leader from Beverley fire station.

"It's also their parents, brothers, sisters – it's the ripple on the pond effect.

"If we can get the message across to one or two out of an audience of hundreds, then we've done our job."

The awareness day saw two crashed cars used as props, with students on the college's public services course playing injured drivers and passengers.

Ambulance and fire crews raced to the scene, cutting the roof off one of the cars to free a girl trapped inside.

As fire officers went methodically about their work, a police car arrived to breathalyse the driver responsible.

Casualty reduction officer PC Simon Carlisle helped to arrange the day.

"We did this so students perhaps realise the implications of being involved in a road traffic collision," he said.

"The day was twofold – there was a short, sharp shock from the exercise and there were questionnaires to take away.

"We want them to remember this in six months' time so they are still thinking about the consequences."

The act ended with police zipping up a dead character in a body bag.

He was played by student Ben Hartley, 17.

"I'm hoping to learn to drive," he said.

"It really hit home that you don't want to risk other people as well as yourself."

Ben lost a family member in a crash when he was very young.

"I've always thought I will be careful when driving," he said.

April Else, 18, played a woman with suspected spinal injuries.

She was lifted out of the car on a board by the fire service.

"I can imagine people being scared," she said.

"The fire officers were being really nice."

And the day's serious message was not lost on watching students.

"I'm having driving lessons at the moment," said Katie Holbrook, 17, who is studying public services.

"It would definitely make me take care on the roads. The fact somebody died in it shocks you into thinking about it."

Childcare student Jodie Perkins, 17, agreed.

"I haven't started driving yet but it made me think of when I'm in other people's cars and they speed or they're texting," she said.

"It was seeing the body bag go over that really brought it home."