Road safety in spotlight

A specially modified car crash simulator, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, has been launched in Ballymoney by Justice Minister David Ford and Environment Minister Mark H Durkan.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Oct 2013, 10:30 BST
NRC Ballymoney student Demi Cochrane wearing 'Drunk Goggles' to simulate drink driving along with Coleraine Inst students Conor Shiels and Jason Wedlock, NRC student Hannah Kirkpatrick and Room2Race staff at the road safety 2Fast2Soon organised by Ballymoney Police and Community Safety Partnership, at the Joey Dunlop Centre, on behalf of Coleraine, Limavady and Moyle Partnerships . 056 2Fast2SoonNRC Ballymoney student Demi Cochrane wearing 'Drunk Goggles' to simulate drink driving along with Coleraine Inst students Conor Shiels and Jason Wedlock, NRC student Hannah Kirkpatrick and Room2Race staff at the road safety 2Fast2Soon organised by Ballymoney Police and Community Safety Partnership, at the Joey Dunlop Centre, on behalf of Coleraine, Limavady and Moyle Partnerships . 056 2Fast2Soon
NRC Ballymoney student Demi Cochrane wearing 'Drunk Goggles' to simulate drink driving along with Coleraine Inst students Conor Shiels and Jason Wedlock, NRC student Hannah Kirkpatrick and Room2Race staff at the road safety 2Fast2Soon organised by Ballymoney Police and Community Safety Partnership, at the Joey Dunlop Centre, on behalf of Coleraine, Limavady and Moyle Partnerships . 056 2Fast2Soon

Ballymoney Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), on behalf of Ballymoney, Limavady, Coleraine and Moyle PCSPs, received £35,000 from the Department of Justice’s Asset Recovery Community Scheme, to design and build a car crash simulator to help address inconsiderate and dangerous driving by young people. The project is called ‘2 Fast 2 Soon’.

The simulator, a modified Peugeot 207, will start with a car journey on a typical Northern Ireland rural road. Through its high quality sound system, hydraulics, DVD player and smoke and light system, young drivers get to experience being in a crash and learn about the devastating consequences of driving irresponsibly, including the potential for injury and death.

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The PSNI will take the car to 21 post-primary schools in the PCSP areas to educate young drivers about road safety.

Speaking at the launch of the simulator at the Joey Dunlop Centre in Ballymoney, Justice Minister David Ford said: “PCSPs have a key role to play in engaging with local communities, to identify issues of local concern and in developing actions to help address these concerns.

“This innovative project is an excellent example of how the PCSPs involved are delivering for their local communities.

“By driving dangerously and irresponsibly not only are young people putting their lives at risk but their actions often intimidate and frighten others; this type of anti-social behaviour leads to a real fear within communities.

“My Department has been able to support the development of this impressive car simulator through money seized from criminals,” said Mr Ford.

Related topics:Mark H DurkanNorthern IrelandPCSP