Safe Drive Stay Alive is back for fifth year to educate over 12,000 young people on consequences of dangerous driving

Safe Drive Stay Alive is back for its fifth year to educate young drivers on the devastating consequences of road traffic collisions and the importance of road safety.

This year sees a change in government policy which means learner drivers can now have lessons on the motorway with an approved driving instructor in order for them to gain valuable experience and knowledge on how to drive on motorways safely.

With this in mind, a key theme for this year’s Safe Drive Stay Alive is speed, educating over 12,000 young people on the precautions that need to be taken and the consequences of going over the speed limit.

The 80-minute performances feature emergency service staff, road casualties and families that have lost loved ones, who talk to the audience about their real experiences of a road traffic collision.

Safe Drive Stay Alive features a range of emotionally engaging and shocking real-life stories, from delivering the devastating news of a death to the parents or family with a knock on the door, to the impact of injuries or arranging a funeral for a child, including the story of Elaine’s son – James.

James loved spending time with his friends. He had recently moved into a new apartment in Manchester and was out celebrating his football team's win over drinks with friends.

At the end of the night a friend offered him a lift home. The driver had been drinking and began driving above the speed limit, quickly losing control of the car. As the car whooshed down the road, it overturned and slid onto its roof.

James received catastrophic injuries and died that night.

Elaine said: “I joined Safe Drive Stay Alive after the death of my son James, in the hope that I might help reduce road deaths for young people in Greater Manchester and prevent other families from facing such tragedy.

“I believe in our young drivers, and want to help them to stay safe and support each other to become responsible drivers and passengers.

“Speed kills and not only does it have a lasting impact on those involved in the collision, but their family and friends too.”

Safe Drive Stay Alive is a partnership between Greater Manchester’s emergency services, Salford Royal NHS Trust, casualties and bereaved family members and it aims to reduce the number of young driver related deaths and injuries on our roads.

Chief Inspector Gareth Parkin from the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Roads Policing Unit, said: “Our officers see first-hand the devastating impact of road traffic collisions and the consequences they can have not only on the victims, but also on the victim’s family and friends as well as other road users and pedestrians.

“Safe Drive Stay Alive is an incredibly important project as inexperience has shown us that young people are at greater risk of being involved in a collision.

“The powerful and thought-provoking performance engages with young people, encouraging them to consider the consequences of their actions both as a driver and as a passenger and demonstrates the benefits of safe, responsible driving.

“Speeding increases the risk of a collision occurring and the severity of those that do take place, so it is important to stress that the speed limit is a maximum, not a target.

“GMP is keen to educate the public on the importance of road safety as much as possible, which is why we are involved in Safe Drive Stay Alive.”

Carolyn Southern, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Medicine at Salford Royal said: ‘’Working in a major trauma centre we see the impact speeding has on young lives as well as the family and friends that are left behind.

“Anything that can be done to reduce the pain and anguish caused by such tragedies is worthwhile.  Salford Royal is proud to be part of Safe Drive Stay Alive and its aim to reduce the number of young people involved in this type of incident. This powerful and emotional event is the best thing that I have been involved with that helps to prevent the of death or life changing injuries occurring in young people involved in road traffic collisions.

“To see and hear the reactions of the audience when they have attended a performance tells me that it has had an impact on them. It is a privilege to work alongside the other emergency services and together hopefully Safe Drive Stay Alive can make a difference and show young people that getting into a car either as a driver or passenger is a major responsibility and serious consequences occur if not taken seriously.  If Safe Drive Stay Alive can save the lives of young people, then it’s all worth it ‘’