Teenagers and adults from Lisburn & Castlereagh were the recipients of a hard-hitting road safety message through the award winning Roadsafe Roadshow devised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland Roads Policing Unit and supported by AXA Insurance.
The award-winning Roadshow was performed to just over 800 sixth formers at Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn on Tuesday 19 November 2024 as part of road safety awareness week. An additional performance was also shown to an adult audience on the same date and was supported by key partners on road safety providing information stalls. The partners included PSNI, NIFRS, NIAS, Road Ahead, Axa Insurance and the newly formed Lisburn & Castlereagh Road Safety Partnership.
Recognising that young people aged 25 and under are one of the age groups most at risk of being killed or seriously injured on our roads each year, the Roadshow aims to bring its message to those about to start out on what will, hopefully, be a long and safe motoring experience throughout their lives.
The Roadshow, which so far has been seen by many thousands of teenagers across Northern Ireland, depicts graphically how a night out can end in tragedy and possibly permanent disability.
The story is told by a police officer, a paramedic, a fire officer, a young man who was jailed following a serious road traffic collision he was involved in, and a young person, who was paralysed following a horrific collision.
The narrative is interspersed video clips and television and cinema advertisements.
Constable Teeney, PSNI Roads Safety Education Officer, said, "The Road Safe Roadshow has been a major success. We have been able to bring a road safety message to hundreds of young people in the highest risk group. I have no doubt that the road show shocks, perhaps even horrifies, our young audiences. We make no apology for that.
"We believe that showing realistically just what happens on our roads, has an impact on the students who attend. I hope that after seeing the road show they realise that they are not indestructible; that they are as vulnerable on the roads as the next person and that they must respect the roads and other users".
"One of the hardest parts of any police officer's job is breaking the news of the death or injury of a loved one to relatives. It is especially heart-breaking when that news is of a young person whose whole life lay ahead. Many traffic collisions could have been avoided and we hope that the road show will help young people realise the consequences of their actions".
Lisburn and Castlereagh PCSP Chair Councillor Sharon Lowry said, “Every parent’s nightmare is to hear that knock on the door and to be told that their child has been involved in a road traffic collision. Shocking though it may be, this Roadshow aims to help our young people understand that while they may feel completely in control, they are most at risk of becoming involved in a road traffic collision at the start of their motoring life. I am very pleased that the PCSP is supporting the PSNI to deliver such a serious message in such an effective way.”
Julieann Martindale, Customer and Marketing Director at AXA commented on the events, “AXA is delighted to continue to support this compelling and hard-hitting programme. As a leading motor insurer AXA deals with a large number of claims every week as a result of traffic collisions. The effects are well documented - too many people are being killed on our roads or are being injured for life. Young people are particularly over-represented, and we want to help educate them to be safe and responsible drivers of the future. This long running and highly successful programme is a great way to assist us meet this objective.”