Road safety campaign targets young drivers and riders across local high schools.
A week-long road safety campaign aimed at educating young drivers and riders about the dangers of the road has been successfully delivered across high schools in the north of Powys.
The Your Future Your Choice campaign, which reached hundreds of students, emphasised the critical importance of safe driving and riding habits.
The campaign, a collaborative effort between Dyfed-Powys Police’s roads policing officers, school liaison officers, the fire service, and road safety teams from Powys Council, raised awareness about the consequences of risky behaviour, and how to stay safe behind the wheel.
A key focus of the campaign was to reinforce the message that road safety is a shared responsibility that requires safer choices from everyone.
Roads Policing Sergeant Rob Hamer said, “Our young people are the drivers and riders of tomorrow, and it’s vital we equip them with the knowledge and skills to stay safe on the road.
“The Your Future Your Choice campaign has brought together local agencies to provide a clear message: road safety is everyone’s responsibility. By working together, we can help prevent collisions and save lives.”
Over the course of the week, students heard from our officers about the importance of responsible driving, the dangers of speeding, driving under the influence of drink and drugs, using a mobile device, wearing a seatbelt, and careless and dangerous driving. These are known as the Fatal Five.
They also heard the story of Olivia Alkir in a powerful film that was released in March 2022. Olivia’s Story explains how 17-year-old Olivia from Ruthin was tragically killed on the B5105 in Ruthin in June 2019 following a collision where two young drivers were racing.
School Liaison Officers Lindsay Sweetman and Gayle Jones said, “We hope that by hearing Olivia’s story, students will leave with a greater understanding of the risks involved in driving and riding, and the responsibility they hold when they get behind the wheel.”
Powys County Council’s road safety officer, Jim Campbell, added, “This campaign has been a fantastic example of how the community can come together to create a lasting impact. Educating young drivers now can make a huge difference in reducing the number of collisions and fatalities on our roads in the future.”
Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with many saying they felt more confident in their ability to make safe choices on the road. The campaign also sparked valuable discussions among students about peer pressure, the dangers of the Fatal Five behaviours, and the importance of speaking out if they witness unsafe driving.
The week-long event is part of an ongoing commitment by Dyfed-Powys Police and partner agencies to reduce collisions and fatalities on our roads.
Find out more about the campaign on the website - https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/police-forces/dyfed-powys police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/2024/november/your-future.-your-choice/
