Road Safety Event Held for South Powys Pupils
Sixth form pupils from across south Powys have taken part in a road safety education event that was held in Brecon.
The event was held at Brecon’s high school and leisure centre and was organised by Powys County Council’s Road Safety Unit, working in partnership with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Dyfed Powys Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service.
Collision SceneAimed at sixth form pupils aged 16-18 years, the event staged a collision scene where pupils were given the chance to see first-hand what the emergency services do when there is a fatal collision, including scene management and the extrication of ‘drivers’ of vehicles.
The pupils moved indoors where they had the opportunity to see what happens in relation to court
proceedings when someone has been killed in a collision.
Gold-winning Paralympian Josie Pearson, MBE also attended the event and spent 15 minutes talking to the pupils about how a fatal collision she was involved in when she was 17 years old has affected her life.
Pupils at Brecon High School
Helen Richards and Bob Chard, whose teenage daughter Rachel was sadly killed in a collision were also present for the event and shared their experience with the pupils.
Students were then given the opportunity to question the council’s road safety officers, officers from the police, fire and ambulance services, Josie, Helen and Bob about what they had seen during the event and about anything relating to driving or road safety in general.
Volunteers from the Brecon and Radnor Branch of The Samaritans were also present on the day to offer help and support to anybody who had been affected by what they had seen.
Crash SceneCommenting on the event, Cllr Wynne Jones, Cabinet Member responsible for Road Safety, said: “I am sure you are all aware that young driver safety is a high priority for us. This was a first class and informative road safety event aimed very much at our young people and our aim is to keep them safe when they are on our roads.
“We are all working closely to reduce casualties on our roads, especially that of young drivers and their passengers. As drivers, passengers and general road users we are urging you to take care on the roads.”
Nichola Davies, the council’s Area Road Safety Officer, said: “We hope that all the young people who attended the event have an increased knowledge of road safety and indeed the responsibility they have to themselves and their peers to keep themselves safe.”