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Another busy Valentine for FMG

The period around Valentines Day is always busy for the For my girlfriend (FMG) young driver campaign - and 2006 proved no exception.

Suffolk's road safety team held a stopping distance demonstration. Students placed cuts-outs of pedestrians in the path of a vehicle - at the point at which they thought it would stop when the brakes were applied at 40mph. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority underestimated the stopping distance required.

Across Essex, the road safety team attended young people events in and around Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow and Saffron Walden.

On the Wirral, the campaign launched with a crash reconstruction in Birkenhead town centre. It was also presented at the Wirral's main cinema, where cards and red roses were distributed.

A student from Bracknell & Wokingham College was cut out of a vehicle in Charles Square, Bracknell. The campaign was also presented at the Odeon cinema in Bracknell, and at a Pre Driver Motorwise event for 48 prospective young drivers.

Students from Bracknell and Wokingham College produced an impressive video/slideshow in support of FMG. For more information contact Nigel Pumffrey on 01344-460209.

The campaign was widely promoted across Buckinghamshire. The road safety team recorded interviews for 'Mix 96' and 'Three Counties' local radio stations. In partnership with pupils from Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School and the Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue the team also recorded a news item for BBC News South.

In South Gloucestershire, activity commenced with a bus back campaign across the area. The road safety team attended Filton College, where Avon & Somerset Fire and Rescue re-enacted the scene on the front of the Valentine card. A similar event also took place at the University of the West of England.

Somerset's road safety team distributed 1,000 roses to students in five colleges across the county. "A roll-up display utilising the campaign graphics proved a great talking point," says Rina Cameron, Somerset's road safety manager.

Thurrock's road safety team recreated a crash scene at Palmers College, Thurrock, with students being cut out of a vehicle. 232 red roses were also handed out - one for every young driver casualty on Thurrock's roads in 2005.

Sussex Safety Camera Partnership handed out roses on Brighton Pier, and fire-fighters from Preston Circus Fire Station also demonstrated extrication techniques.

Finally, Oxford's road safety team is working on a DVD for sixth form schools and colleges. The 12-15 min film will focus on what happens after a crash. The filming will be done via a shoulder-mounted camcorder through the boyfriend's eyes.