12 month postcard campaign launched in Buckinghamshire

An innovative road safety campaign has been launched to encourage young drivers to drive more safely in Buckinghamshire.

Run by Buckinghamshire County Council, the campaign is designed to raise awareness of the tragic consequences of driving too fast. The message is delivered in the form of a postcard, designed to look like the kind of literature a young person might pick up at a nightclub. On the back of the postcard is some factual information about driving too fast.

This initial card is part of a series of postcards that will be produced and distributed over the next year. The other postcards cover subjects including drink driving, drug driving, mobile phones, seatbelts and fatigue. The campaign is being funded by the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership.

The Buckinghamshire campaign was launched to coincide with the DfT’s ‘Slow Down’ campaign in September 2002. The cards have been offered to nightclubs across the county and are supported by an A2 poster. They have also been distributed to sixth form colleges, schools and universities in a bid to spread the message as widely as possible.

"Driving too fast is the major cause of crashes on the county’s roads and the majority of casualties in these kind of crashes are young people," said Mark Oldfield, Buckinghamshire’s safer roads officer. "It is important for us to raise awareness of this problem. Many young drivers are under a lot of pressure from their peers and also get a buzz out of fast driving. We want to remind them of the potentially tragic consequences of their actions."

If you would like further information about the campaign or sample resources please contact Mark Oldfield on 01296 382338 or moldfield@buckscc.gov.uk