Between the 8 and 14 June 2015 Fire and Rescue Services across the UK are coming together to raise awareness of the dangers to young drivers of driving whilst distracted.
Driving is a risky activity, so it requires full attention at all times. Drivers who are distracted significantly increase their risk of causing a devastating crash.
The target audience for this week are young drivers and passengers because although driving distraction is a significant risk for all drivers, if combined with the inexperience of a newly-qualified driver it becomes an even more deadly cocktail.
Station Manager Mark Naylor, road safety lead for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: Although the Fire Service does not have a statutory duty to deliver road safety education, we do so because we attend road traffic collisions, with other emergency services, to release seriously injured people from vehicles. If we continue to all work together to educate and inform drivers we will hopefully reduce collisions and deaths and injuries. The consequences of a road traffic collision, especially ones that involves a fatality stay with people for a very long time.
Unfortunately, what we call the fatal four, i.e. speed, seat belt, drink and mobile phones play a part in the contributory factors leading to a collision. Mobile phone use is very common, the amount of drivers I see looking at, or using them is worrying, if drivers knew they’re four times more likely to crash when using a mobile phone whilst driving they may stop. In fact, road collisions are the biggest cause of death for young adults aged between 15 and 19. This is why the fire and rescue service and partners are keen to raise awareness of the dangers to this group and help save lives through road safety events. Helps us, to help you, please put your mobile device out of sight whilst driving!
Distracted driving activities include things like using a mobile phone, texting, and eating. Using in-vehicle technologies (such as navigation systems) can also be sources of distraction.
Passengers are also a big source of distraction and have an important role to play in helping the driver to be able to concentrate on just driving. So the campaign will also be targeting messages about this too.
During the week there will be a range of events, and activities supported by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and 95Alive the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership.
On Monday 8 June 2015 there will be a launch event for the week, at Lady Lumley’s School in Pickering.
This will involve a number of demonstrations and interactive session for some of the pupils, who attend the school including, demo car, reaction tester, driver simulator and a casualty rescue demonstration by a fire crew from Malton.
Attending this launch will be Chief Fire Office Nigel Hutchinson who is also the CFOA Road Safety lead, along with Andrew Jones MP, Honor Byford, Chair of Road Safety GB and David and Janet Warin (MBEs) who lost their son Daniel in a road traffic collision.
Throughout the rest of the week North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and 95Alive will be holding a number of other events including:
Monday 8 June
Road Safety advice event at RAF Leeming Spa Shop 11am-2pm
Motorcycle Safety Event at Squires Café, at Sherburn in Elemet 1:30-4pm
Road Traffic Collision Demo to York College Construction Department 1pm
Seatbelt survey at Malton College 3pm-4pm
Seatbelt Survey on Water Street in Skipton 3pm-4pm
Vehicle Safety checks Richmond Market place 10am-12noon
Road Safety Advice, Scarborough Sea front 8:30pm
Tuesday 9 June
Demo car Hazard awareness event at Bentham 10am-12noon
Road Safety presentation at Richmond 6th form
Seatbelt Sled event at Harrogate College
Vehicle Safety Inspection Richmond 6th Form car park 3pm
Seat belt survey at Settle primary school 3pm-4pm
Road Traffic Collision demonstration at Selby College 12noon-1pm
Wednesday 10 June
Walking school bus Ruswarp School, Whitby
Seat belt survey Skipton 830am
Road Safety Event Tesco in Northallerton 930am-1:30pm
Road Safety Event Askham Bryan College York 11am-3pm
Thursday 11 June
Seatbelt survey at South Craven School
Road Safety advice and info RAF Leeming
Road Traffic Collision Demo Victoria Shopping Centre Harrogate 2pm-4pm
Seatbelt Survey Thirsk Primary School 2:30pm-15:45
Young Road User Awareness evening MacDonald’s Selby, 6pm-8pm
Friday 12 June
Road Safety school visit at Braeburn School 9am
Driver Distraction Event Catterick Garrison 12noon-4pm
Seat belt survey Brougham Street Scholl Skipton 3pm-4pm
Road Safety Event Halfords, Scarborough, 330pm-7pm
Demo car hazard awareness at Wharfdale School 12-1:30pm
Saturday 13 June
Motorcycles and distraction event, Hawes Marketplace 10am-3pm
Road Traffic Collision Demo Ripon Marketplace 2pm-4pm
Sunday 14 June
Advice to attendees of modified Car show in Pickering
