Licence to Kill road safety presentations

A hard-hitting road safety presentation aimed at improving safety among young drivers by highlighting the fatal risks of dangerous and careless driving is being delivered to Guernsey’s secondary school students this week.

Licence to Kill is a tri-service initiative produced by Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service, Guernsey Police and Guernsey’s Ambulance and Rescue Service, which shows students the devastating consequences of speeding, drinking alcohol, not wearing a seatbelt and using mobile phones while driving, known as the fatal four.

The sessions are being shown to students in Year 11, who will soon be behind the wheel, and it features footage of local crashes as well as interviews with victims and their families.

Ambulance and Rescue Paramedic Officer Steve Torode said: “Sadly we have seen the fatal consequences of road traffic incidents on our roads in Guernsey. The consequences of taking risk behind the wheel can be devastating both physically and mentally, and do not just affect those directly involved, but also families, friends and the wider community. We hope that the messages of Licence to Kill – Don’t speed, don’t drive under the influence of drink or drugs, don’t use a mobile phone or text while driving and wear a seatbelt, will help keep our roads safe, not just for the next generation of driver, but all road users.”

Roads Policing Unit officer Mat Du Port said: “Driving is an activity most of us do every day, but if we don’t do it safely, it can also become one of the most dangerous activities we do. It is important that new drivers learn to understand the responsibility of getting behind the wheel, and also understand what it is they can do to keep themselves safe. Not using a mobile phone, wearing your seatbelt, not drink or drug driving, driving with care and sticking to the speed limit – these are the fatal four, and statistically are the reason for most life-ending collisions, and the most accidents. If every driver drives takes this advice, our roads will be a lot safer. Licence to Kill is a reminder to students that just because they’ve passed their driving test, they aren’t suddenly able to drive at speed, or when drunk or under the influence of drugs. It is a licence to drive – not a licence to kill.”

Fire & Rescue Service Crew Commander Gavin Robins said: “Licence to Kill is designed to be hard-hitting to ensure that new drivers understand the consequences of dangerous driving, and go onto the roads with the right attitude. If we can highlight just how dangerous the fatal four are, then we can make our roads safer. Driving is an amazing freedom for these young people, but it is also a big responsibility, because it can put them at risk and other road users at risk. The Emergency Services deal with crashes all year round, all of different seriousness, but it does not take much for an RTC to completely change, or ruin, a life. We want to avoid these incidents from happening, and so it is vital every driver understands the risks, and drives safely. Don’t drink and drive, don’t speed, don’t use your mobile phone, and wear your seatbelt. These four things make such a huge difference to the safety of driving.”