22/6/2006 - Apprentices get lesson in road safety

Dozens of young apprentices from across West Cumbria are to be given an intensive day's training in road safety that will involve them learning about the devastation caused by road traffic accidents.

The event organised by Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service takes place on Monday 26 June at the Sellafield Apprentice Training Centre and will include hard-hitting films on the dangers of driving irresponsibly.

The apprentices are all from the GEN II training scheme and range in age from 17 to 19. This is an age group which, because of their driving inexperience and ability to buy sportier cars, are thought to be at increased risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road accident.

Firefighters from Seascale fire station and Sellafield Fire & Rescue Service are providing the training. Assisting them will be David Tattersal, a 20 year old road traffic collision victim who will be talking about his own experience of being seriously injured, the trauma to himself and his family, and his ongoing recovery.

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service's Group Manager Dave Edgar, who has arranged Monday's event, said:

"We will be delivering this blunt lesson on the consequences of neglecting road safety to around around 100 apprentices who work for businesses across West Cumbria.

"The combination of age and disposable income makes this group a key target in our efforts to reduce road accidents across the county."

Figures show that a 17 year old male driver is seven times more likely to be involved in an accident than other age groups. Among young people, road collisions are the most common cause of accidental death. These statistics are backed up by figures showing that one in three males between 17 and 20 have a road collision in the first two years after passing their driving test.

The Road Awareness Training has been coordinated by Safer Roads for Cumbria - the partnership organisation of Cumbria County Council, Highways Agency, Cumbria Constabulary, Capita, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, the Primary Care Trusts, Freight Transport Association, Road Haulage Association and Cumbria Safety Cameras.