Local college urge students to drive safe

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) is urging young drivers to consider their actions while behind the wheel.

It comes as part of a Road Safety Week initiative during which the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) is encouraging people to think twice before letting themselves get distracted when driving.

The event was organised by SERC in conjunction with the NIFRS and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service which illustrated the potential consequences of dangerous driving through a mock road traffic collision (RTC) extrication demonstration at the colleges Lisburn campus.

The demonstration saw one student from the college rescued from the vehicle by firefighters, who were then attended to by paramedics. Student Shauna McGarry from Crumlin who volunteered to be cut from the car said: “If it had of been real I know it would have felt ten times worse. The demonstration was very hard hitting and really opened our eyes as to how severe and dangerous these accidents can be.”

Crowds watched on as the crews removed the roof from the car in an incident that resulted in one serious injury and one fatality.

“Fortunately this was only a demonstration, but we hope it showed the students what really can happen when people let themselves get distracted when behind the wheel,” said Barry Sands from the NIFRS.

The presentation is aimed at young people, particularly 17-25 years’ old who are at high risk of accidents due to lack of experience, speeding or distractions while driving.

Roger Duncan, Head of Pastoral Care and Guidance at SERC said: “It’s really important to raise awareness of road safety issues and it’s hoped that events such as these will encourage them and their peers to think about their driving style and behaviour in the car and become advocates for safer driving practices all year-round.”