‘Reality’ road show wins award

A hard hitting ‘reality’ road safety campaign, fronted by a 25-year-old paralysed in a road accident, has received an award for showing young people in Northern Ireland the dangers of bad driving.

The campaign won the Prince Michael International Road Safety Education and Training Award because of its innovative method and sense of realism. The ‘It could be you’ Roadsafe Road Show has been staged in schools around the Province and is supported by two videos and a teachers’ resource pack.

The show revolves around a young 17-year-old who acts out the story leading up to a car crash and then his injuries and those of his girlfriend. The story is dramatically described in turn by a paramedic, a young police officer, a fire-fighter, a surgeon and finally a real victim, Phillip Dohaghty, who suffered terrible injuries when thrown out of the back window of a car during a collision.

The show is supported by highly dramatic use of audio, video and projected images to ensure it is both shocking and thought provoking.

"It’s been very successful and it’s all down to the fact that those making the presentation are actually involved in real life road accident situations," says George Doherty of The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Traffic Branch Education Support team. "We have a police officer, fire officer, surgeon and a real victim who together give the whole show credibility among the young people watching it. It means that they have instant respect for what they are being told."

Adrian Walsh, Director of the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, said: "This is a very successful idea which displays a high level of innovation and co-operation across a range of different organisations involved in the tragedy of road death and injury. It is a great example of how realism and honesty are two of the most effective ways to get vital road safety information across – especially to young people."

http://www.roadsafe.com/roadsafe/PressReleases.asp?ref=86